Planning Advice - Surrey Outdoor Learning & Development

Challenge

Vail Williams was instructed by Surrey Outdoor Learning & Development (SOLD), part of Surrey County Council, to secure planning permission for a new high ropes course at Henley Fort Outdoor Education Centre.

The site was situated in a highly sensitive and historically significant setting, forming part of the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Metropolitan Green Belt. The course was designed to enhance the centre’s outdoor learning offer while respecting its environmental and heritage constraints.

How we helped

• Navigated complex planning constraints, including the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Greenbelt policy, and adjacent to a Scheduled Monument designation.
• Developed a robust planning strategy, clearly demonstrating educational and community benefits, including justification of very special circumstances.
• Embedded a heritage-led approach, ensuring preservation of the Scheduled Monument through a low-impact, reversible design.
• Engaged proactively with planning officers and heritage consultees to address issues early, submitting comprehensive supporting documentation, including a detailed Planning Statement and technical assessments.

Result

• Secured planning permission for the high-quality outdoor education facility in a highly constrained environment in the Surrey Hills.
• Enabled SOLD to enhance their outdoor education offering while safeguarding the site’s heritage and landscape value.
• The proposal makes a valuable contribution to the quality and range of outdoor facilities offered by SOLD, providing further physical and mental health benefits, in addition to social and developmental needs, for children and young people within Surrey.