Purpose

To confirm the Article 4 Direction on land on
the south and east sides of Chase Cottage, Sutton Place, Abinger
Hammer, Dorking, RH5 6RP as shown on the plan attached to the
Article 4 Direction.

Content

Decision:
That the Assistant Director of Planning
Development be authorised to take all reasonable steps to confirm
the Article 4 Direction made on 12 December 2023 in respect of Land
on the south and east sides of Chase Cottage, Sutton Place, Abinger
Hammer, Dorking, RH5 6RP registered at H.M. Land Registry under
Title Number SY739199 (“the Land”) (“the Article
4 Direction”) as shown edged in red on the plan attached to
the Article 4 Direction.
Reasons:

1.    
To protect the openness of the Green Belt, the
landscape value of the Surrey Hills National Landscape (SHNL)
(formerly Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) and Area of Great
Landscape Value (AGLV) and potential harm to the setting of a Grade
II* Listed Building, Usherwood, Sutton
Place that would result from the subdivision of the
Land.

2.    
Whilst the registered owner has not explicitly
stated that they object to the Article 4 Direction, given
correspondence received by the council, the Assistant Director of
Planning Development had taken the decision to not use delegated
powers and therefore sought authority to confirm the Article 4
Direction.

3.    
The development which the Article 4 Direction
controlled, would be prejudicial to the proper planning of the area
and constitute a threat to the local amenity of the area by
potentially causing harm to the designated Green Belt and its
openness, the landscape value of the SHNL, AGLV and the setting of
a Grade II* Listed Building.  It was
considered necessary to confirm the Article 4 Direction in order to
continue the protection offered to these important
matters.
Other options considered and rejected by the
Executive:
None.
Details of any conflict of interest declared by
the Leader or lead councillors and any dispensation
granted:
Councillor Catherine Houston declared a non-pecuniary interest
in that one of the individuals named in the report was known to
her.