®Planning appeal decision
2 Sanway Close, Byflet, West Byfleet, KT14 7SP
Planning appeal 6005819 at 2 Sanway Close, Byflet, West Byfleet, KT14 7SP (Woking Borough Council) was allowed on 10 July 2026 by Inspector J Heppell, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the proposal on the ability of the local community to meet its day-to-day needs.
the erection of 3 dwellings (Use Class C3), together with associated car parking, cycle and refuse storage and landscaping, following the demolition of the existing retail unit and residential dwelling
- Authority
- Woking Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning
- Procedure
- Written
- Development
- residential
- Inspector
- J Heppell
- Postcode
- KT14 7SP
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the proposal on the ability of the local community to meet its day-to-day needs
What decided it
The realistic fallback position of prior approval for change of use to residential, combined with the Council's inability to demonstrate five-year housing land supply and the availability of alternative retail facilities at the Local Centre, meant that the adverse impacts of losing the shop would not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the housing benefits.
The moderate benefits of delivering two dwellings on previously developed land in a sustainable location, combined with the significant weight afforded to the fallback position establishing a strong likelihood the shop would close, outweighed the moderate harm from loss of a retail facility serving day-to-day needs, when assessed against the Framework as a whole under the tilted balance.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy DM15 of the Development Management Policies Development Plan Document October 2016Policy CS8 of the Woking Core Strategy October 2012saved Policy NRM6 of the South East Plan May 2009
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 58
- Judgments
- Mansell v Tonbridge and Malling BC & others [2017] EWCA Civ 1314
How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.
See how each was appliedThe decision letter
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With an account
What an account adds to this decision
More decisions in Woking Borough Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2026
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- Dismissed14 July 20266006124155 Albert Drive, Woking, GU215QY
- Allowed20 March 20263368124Land to the Rear of Lingcroft and Flats 1 and 2 , Lingcroft, Pyrford Road, West Byfleet, KT12 6QS
- Dismissed19 November 20253372169111 Hawthorn Road, Woking, Surrey,, GU22 0BG
- Allowed18 November 2025337063413 Boltons Lane, Woking, GU22 8TL
The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.