We received welcome news from the Planning Inspector earlier this week. The appeal against the refusal of planning permission for 15 & R/O 17 Wattendon Road was dismissed. This was for planning application 21/04380/FUL, dated 19 August 2021, and refused by notice dated 1 August 2023.
It should be noted that the developer submitted a further application on 5 October 2023 for the same site. This was refused by planning officers on 30th November, with153 comments objecting to the application as well as a petition with 145 signatories noted on the council’s planning portal.
This has brought huge relief to residents of Wattendon Road and Steyning Close who were concerned about the overbearing nature of the overdevelopment of this site.
The reasons for refusal were based on character and appearance, stating
“I have found harm to the character and appearance of the area. This is a planning harm which attracts considerable weight. The delivery of housing and the economic benefits carry limited weight, with the mitigation in relation to sustainable transport and the remaining matters only attracting neutral weight, which accordingly do not outweigh the harm I have found. For the reasons given above, the proposal would conflict with the development plan as a whole and there are no material considerations, including the Framework, that would outweigh that conflict. Therefore, the appeal is dismissed.”
The developer also made an application for costs which was also turned down.
The decision by the Planning Inspector can be seen at Reference: APP/L5240/W/23/3328194 (planninginspectorate.gov.uk).
It should be noted that there are additional appeal with or just decided by the Planning Inspector on Kenley applications. These include:
- Firs Road
- Rahat in Pine Close- this has disappointingly been upheld.
