EXPERT WITNESS, OXTED, SURREY
Chichele Road, oxted, surrey
LHLA was appointed as Expert Witness on Landscape Matters for Tandridge District Council.
This was to object to an appeal by a developer against the LPA decision to refuse an application for 116 houses in Oxted, Surrey within the Green Belt and adjacent to the Surrey Hills National Landscape and Ancient Woodland. Part of the LHLA case was to assess the site as a Valued Landscape.
The appeal was dismissed and our client was successful. PINS reference: 3345915.
The Council appointed Louise at comparatively short notice to prepare a landscape proof of evidence and to appear as an expert witness at a public inquiry into an appeal in mid-2024 against the Council’s refusal of planning permission for a development of 116 houses on land north and east of Chichele Road, Oxted.
The appeal site was open land abutting both the northern outskirts of the urban area of Oxted and the Surrey Hills National Landscape and including an area of ancient woodland. Louise prepared a proof of evidence that presented the case that the appeal site should be considered as a valued landscape and rebutting some major arguments in the appellant’s landscape and visual assessment evidence, particularly about the adverse impact the proposed development would have on the character and appearance of the area.
The inquiry inspector agreed with these parts of Louise’s evidence in dismissing the appeal. As an expert witness, Louise’s proof of evidence was presented with great clarity and her oral evidence was given very convincingly and professionally.