®Planning appeal decision
Development Site West of Southwood, Waller Lane, Caterham, CR3 5EA
Planning appeal 6008351 at Development Site West of Southwood, Waller Lane, Caterham, CR3 5EA (Tandridge District Council) was dismissed on 14 October 2026, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The effects of the proposed development on the Green Belt insofar as whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt, having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and relevant development plan policies.
the demolition of existing buildings, erection of four detached dwellings with associated access
- Authority
- Tandridge District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning
- Procedure
- Written
- Development
- residential
- Postcode
- CR3 5EA
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- The effects of the proposed development on the Green Belt insofar as whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt, having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and relevant development plan policies
- The character and appearance of the area
- Trees, with particular regard to their significance in the landscape
- Ecology, habitats and protected species, with regard to hazel dormice
- Biodiversity in relation to whether the proposal would be able to meet Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements
What decided it
The adverse effects on character and appearance, significant trees and the unresolved potential harm to hazel dormice were found to substantially outweigh the housing supply and biodiversity benefits.
the modest housing supply contribution (substantial weight) and small biodiversity enhancement benefit were substantially outweighed by the adverse effects on character and appearance, trees and potential harm to a protected species, so the proposal would not constitute sustainable development when assessed against the NPPF as a whole
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- TLPP2 Policy DP10TLPP2 Policy DP13TDCS Policy CSP18TLPP2 Policy DP7CCWNP Policy CCW4CCWNP Policy CCW5TDCS CSP17TLPP2 Policy DP19CCWNP Policy CCW13
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Policy GB6Policy GB7Policy S5Policy N2Policy HO7
- Judgments
- Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, R (on the application of) v Epping Forest District Council & Anor (Rev 1) [2016] EWCA Civ 404
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
Town Planner Pro holds this letter. The Appeals plan opens it and every other letter we hold, all of them searchable, with the main issues and what decided each case picked out. We do not show letters on the free site because they carry people’s names and addresses.
With an account
What an account adds to this decision
More decisions in Tandridge District Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2026
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- Dismissed22 September 20266011736Land Adjacent to Oaklands Drive, Copthorne Bank, Copthorne, RH10 3JD
- Dismissed18 September 20266011972Semper Fidelis, Witre Mill Lane, Newchapel, RH7 6HJ
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.