Green Belt Integrated Retirement Community approved on appeal

Merrow Wood (Lingfield) Ltd has secured permission on appeal for a new Integrated Retirement Community (Class C2) in the Surrey Green Belt immediately to the south of the village of Lingfield, comprising up to 107 new residential units, a new medical centre, associated infrastructure and open space. It was common ground with the Local Planning Authority, Tandridge District Council, that the Appeal Site comprised Grey Belt land, but the Appeal Scheme did not meet the Golden Rules as it did not provide 50% affordable housing and so comprised inappropriate development in the Green Belt. The appeal was determined by Dr R Catchpole, BSc (hons) PhD CEcol MCIEEM IHBC. The Inspector described the LPA’s 5 year housing land supply of just 1.92 years as “dire” and approved the scheme on the basis of very special circumstances. These included, but were not limited to: the scheme’s contribution to housing land supply, the provision of the new medical centre, lack of alternative sites, the financial contribution towards affordable housing, the release of under-occupied family housing, health and well-being benefits, the provision of new public open space, and the provision of BNG. Notably, the scheme was supported by c.80% of those responding to the planning application consultation.

Robert Walton KC acted for Merrow Wood (Lingfield) Ltd, instructed by Adrian Kearley at QED Planning. The scheme architects are Fluid London Ltd. Evidence to the appeal was given by Jessamy Venables (Carterwood) dealing with Need; Michelle Bolger (Expert Landscape Consultancy) dealing with Landscape and Green Belt issues; and Adrian Kearley (QED) dealing with planning matters.