Land Between Timbers & Tanglefields, Carlton Road,, Carlton Road,, South Godstone,, RH9 8LF

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt
• the effect of the proposal on the openness and purposes of the Green Belt
• whether the proposed development would be suitably located having regard to the accessibility of services and facilities
• whether the proposed development makes adequate provision for parking
• the effect of the proposed development on highway safety
• whether any harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations, so as to amount to the very special circumstances required to justify the proposal

What decided it

The appeal site is not in a sustainable location due to the unsuitability of pedestrian and cycling routes to services and facilities, which means the proposal fails the sustainability criterion in paragraph 155 of the Framework and constitutes inappropriate development in the Green Belt without very special circumstances.

The moderate benefits of housing delivery and self-build provision do not clearly outweigh the harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness, the harm to openness, the unsuitability of location, and the inadequate parking provision.