11 Danetree Road, West Ewell, KT19 9SA

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the existing building and surrounding area
• whether the proposal would provide acceptable living conditions for future occupiers, with regard to the provision of external amenity space
• the effect of the proposal on highway safety, with particular reference to parking provision and the free flow of traffic

What decided it

The cumulative weight of three material conflicts with the development plan—harm to character and appearance, failure to provide acceptable living conditions through lack of amenity space, and unacceptable effects on highway safety through inadequate parking—significantly and demonstrably outweighed the moderate benefits of one additional dwelling, such that the presumption in favour of sustainable development did not apply.

The adverse impacts of harm to character and appearance, failure to provide acceptable living conditions, and unacceptable effects on highway safety, to which significant weight was attached, significantly and demonstrably outweighed the moderate benefits of efficient use of an existing building and contribution of one dwelling to housing supply, such that the presumption in favour of sustainable development did not apply.