Tandridge District Council’s position as the sixth worst performing authority for housing delivery – out of 321 – allowed developers to build 100 homes on green belt. The Planning Inspector’s decision “pleased” developers Cala Homes after he “recognised the need for new homes” in Limpsfield Road, Warlingham, following a week-long inquiry.
Inspector David Troy said he was not swayed by the objections from Warlingham Parish Council, Save Warlingham’s Green Belt Group, or the fact that the proposal represented “inappropriate development in the green belt, which is harmful by definition”. Instead he found the development, which includes 40 affordable properties, “would assist in addressing the acute and persistent housing supply shortfall and would deliver affordable housing in an area of high need.”
The inquiry was held between February 28 and March 2 after Cala Homes appealed on the grounds that Tandridge District Council failed to determine the application on time. Inspector Troy found the council couldn’t show it had deliverable housing sites and that the benefits of the development “would be collectively very extensive”.
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He said: “Consequently, overall, in my view, the adverse impacts arising from this development would not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the scheme’s benefits. The proposal would therefore represent a sustainable form of development… therefore, there is no justified basis to resist the appeal proposal.”
Central to his decision was the council only being able to demonstrate enough land to supply needed homes for the next one and a half years. Furthermore, submitted evidence also demonstrated Tandridge Council has delivered only 38 per cent of its required housing over the past three years and as a result was the sixth poorest performing out of the 321 local authorities nationally, the inspector said.
According to submissions made by the council, had it been in a position to determine the application, “it would have refused planning permission on the basis of the proposal being considered inappropriate development in the green belt”.
Nick Brown, land director at Cala Homes, said: “We are pleased that the Inspector has allowed our appeal and granted planning permission, recognising the need for new homes in the area. This new community will deliver 100 new homes, with a mix of semi-detached and detached houses, and apartments, to suit a range of buyers.
“Forty per cent of homes will be affordable – including shared ownership and affordable rent options – enabling more local people to get on to the property ladder or move within the area. Cala will also be providing new sports facilities including a club pavilion and football pitches.
“New parking spaces will be created to support these facilities and help to reduce parking on local roads. We are delighted to be bringing forward much needed new homes and improved infrastructure for the local area.”
A spokesperson for Tandridge District Council said: “We are disappointed with the inspector’s decision given the land is in the green belt and has national and local policy protection.”
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