For the erection of a detached garage in front garden to serve existing house and associated landscaping works including soil infilling (approx 450mm) to rear of the building

Appeal Decision Site visit made on 16 July 2026 by J Kirkaldy BSc (Hons) PGDip MRTPI Decision by Paul Thompson DipTRP MAUD MRTPI an Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State Decision date: 4th September 2026 Appeal Ref: 6008896 11 Beechwood, Crawley Down Road, Felbridge, Surrey RH19 2NT • The appeal is made under section 78 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) against a refusal to grant planning permission. • The appeal is made by Mrs Shelley Freear against the decision of Tandridge District Council. • The application Ref is TA/2026/122. • The development proposed is for the erection of a detached garage in front garden to serve existing house and associated landscaping works including soil infilling (approx 450mm) to rear of the building. Decision 1. The appeal is allowed and planning permission is granted for the erection of a detached garage in front garden to serve existing house and associated landscaping works including soil infilling (approx 450mm) to rear of the building at 11 Beechwood, Crawley Down Road, Felbridge, Surrey RH19 2NT in accordance with the terms of the application, Ref TA/2026/122, subject to the following conditions: 1) The development hereby permitted shall begin not later than three years from the date of this decision. 2) The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the approved plans: A101 Rev D, A102 Rev D, A200 Rev D, A300 Rev D, Location Plan. 3) Prior to the above ground construction of the building hereby approved details and/or samples of the materials to be used in the construction of the external surfaces of the building shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. Development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details and thereafter retained. 4) Prior to the above ground construction of the building hereby approved a detailed landscaping scheme shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. The scheme shall include planting plans, species, sizes, densities, implementation programme and management arrangements. All planting shall be carried out in the first planting season following completion or first occupation of the development. Any trees or plants which die, are removed or become seriously damaged or diseased within five years shall be replaced with others of similar size and species. Appeal Planning Officer 6008896 2 Appeal Procedure 2. The site visit was undertaken by a representative of the Inspector whose recommendation is set out below and to which the Inspector has had regard before deciding the appeal. Main Issue 3. The main issue is the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the surrounding area. Reasons for the Recommendation 4. The appeal site comprises a two-storey detached dwelling set back from the road behind a deep front garden, which lies at a lower level than the road. It is located in a Green Belt settlement in a residential area characterised by an eclectic mix of dwelling types, sizes and architectural styles. Opposite the site, on the other side of the road, is a large parcel of open space planted with trees, which makes a positive contribution to the open, verdant character of the area. 5. Given the varied dwelling types there is no consistent pattern to the form or siting of garages in the vicinity of the site. Whilst the proposed garage would project forward of the host dwelling, garages in a similar relationship to their host dwellings are visible across the open space on Copthorne Road. Consequently, the proposal would not appear incongruous within its surroundings in this part of Crawley Down Road. 6. Although timber cladding is not a material typically found in the surrounding area, the visual impact of the proposed garage would be limited. Despite its siting close to the front boundary of the site, views of the side and rear elevations would be largely screened by a combination of the existing and proposed boundary planting and the variation in land levels. Therefore, the proposed garage would appear as a discreet feature within the street scene and would not result in harm to the character or appearance of the area. 7. For the reasons given above, the proposal would not have a harmful effect on the character and appearance of the surrounding area. It would therefore accord with Policy DLP12 of the Tandridge Local Plan Part 2: Detailed Policies 2014-2029 (July 2014) (LP), which supports ancillary domestic outbuildings within the curtilage of dwellings in Green Belt settlements where they are in keeping with the character of the village. The proposal would also accord with Policy DP7 of the LP and Policy CSP18 of the Tandridge Core Strategy (2008) (CS) which seek high quality design that responds positively to its surroundings. Conditions 8. Standard conditions relating to the commencement of development and a condition requiring the development to be carried out in accordance with the approved plans are necessary to provide clarity. 9. As limited details have been provided a condition requiring details of external materials is necessary in the interests of the character and appearance of the area. 10. I have had regard to the Parish Council’s request for a condition relating to vegetation screening. The submitted plans indicate additional planting within the Appeal Planning Officer 6008896 3 raised beds, which over time, would provide further screening of the proposed garage. However, only limited details of the proposed planting have been provided. Consequently, I consider it necessary to impose a condition requiring the submission and approval of a planting scheme, in the interests of the character and appearance of the area. Conclusion and Recommendation 11. The proposal would accord with the development plan when read as a whole. I therefore conclude that the appeal should be allowed. J Kirkaldy APPEAL PLANNING OFFICER Inspector’s Decision 12. I have considered all the submitted evidence and my representative’s report and on that basis the appeal is allowed. Paul Thompson INSPECTOR