®Planning appeal decision
Miltons Yard, Unit 1, Petworth Road, Witley, GU8 5LH
partial demolition and conversion of existing single- storey office building (Class E) to form four self-contained residential units (Class C3) with first-floor addition, external alterations, parking, and amenity space
- Authority
- Waverley Borough Council
- Appeal type
- Planning
- Procedure
- Written
- Development
- residential
- Postcode
- GU8 5LH
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposal would result in the unjustified loss of an employment use
- the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area
- whether the proposal would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Witley Conservation Area and the significance of the Hillbrow grade II listed building
- the effect of the proposed scheme on the living conditions of the occupiers of neighbouring dwellings, with particular regard to privacy and outlook
- whether the proposed development would provide acceptable living conditions for future occupants, with particular regard to outlook and the provision of amenity space
- the effect of the proposed development on highway safety, with particular regard to access arrangements and trip generation
What decided it
The application of the Framework's designated heritage asset policies provides a strong reason to refuse the development, as the proposal would cause less than substantial harm to the Witley Conservation Area and the setting of the listed building Hillbrow that is not outweighed by the moderate public benefit of four dwellings.
The modest housing benefit of four dwellings on a previously developed site (moderate weight) was outweighed by the less than substantial harm to the conservation area and listed building setting (great weight required by development plan policies), combined with conflicts with employment, character and appearance, neighbour amenity, and highway safety policies.
Framework references: 11
Plan policies cited: Policy EE2 of the Waverley Borough Local Plan Part 1: Strategic Policies and Sites February 2018, Policy E2 of the Witley Neighbourhood Plan 2017–2032, Policy TD1 of the Waverley Borough Local Plan Part 1: Strategic Policies and Sites February 2018, Policy DM4 of the Waverley Borough Local Plan Part 2: Site Allocations and Development Management Policies March 2023, Policy ND5 of the Witley Neighbourhood Plan 2017–2032, Policy ND7 of the Witley Neighbourhood Plan 2017–2032, Policy HA1 of the Waverley Borough Local Plan Part 1: Strategic Policies and Sites February 2018, Policy DM20 of the Waverley Borough Local Plan Part 2: Site Allocations and Development Management Policies March 2023, Policy DM21 of the Waverley Borough Local Plan Part 2: Site Allocations and Development Management Policies March 2023, Policy HC2 of the Witley Neighbourhood Plan 2017–2032, Policy HC3 of the Witley Neighbourhood Plan 2017–2032, Policy DM5 of the Waverley Borough Local Plan Part 2: Site Allocations and Development Management Policies March 2023, Policy SP1 of the Waverley Borough Local Plan Part 1: Strategic Policies and Sites February 2018, Policy DM9 of the Waverley Borough Local Plan Part 2: Site Allocations and Development Management Policies March 2023
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.