®Planning appeal decision
Hambledon House, Vann Lane, Hambledon, Surrey, GU8 4HW
erection of a self-build dwelling together with attached garaging, machinery store and equipment store, and workshop for Hambledon House and associated landscaping works
- Authority
- Waverley Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Other minor developments
- Inspector
- Wright A
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area, having particular regard to conserving and enhancing the landscape and scenic beauty of the Surrey Hills National Landscape and Area of Great Landscape Value
- whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt, having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and relevant development plan policies
- the effect of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt
- 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 application of the Framework's National Landscape and Green Belt policies provided strong reasons to refuse the development, notwithstanding the Council's inability to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply.
The moderate weight attributed to the provision of a self-build home and limited weight to the fallback position and storage needs did not clearly outweigh the substantial harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness and the harm to the character and appearance of the area and openness of the Green Belt.
Framework references: 11, 154, 155
Plan policies cited: Policy P3 of the Surrey Hills Management Plan 2020–2025, Policy RE2 of the Waverley Local Plan Part 1: Strategic Policies and Sites 2018, Policy RE3 of the Waverley Local Plan Part 1: Strategic Policies and Sites 2018, Policy TD1 of the Waverley Local Plan Part 1: Strategic Policies and Sites 2018, Policy DM1 of the Local Plan Part 2: Site Allocations and Development Management Policies 2023, Policy DM4 of the Local Plan Part 2: Site Allocations and Development Management Policies 2023, Policy DM14 of the Local Plan Part 2: Site Allocations and Development Management Policies 2023
Judgments cited: Wrotham Parish Council v S SHCLG [2026] EWHC 165 (Admin)
The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.