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Planning appeal decision

Dismissed15 March 20223254563

Ashton Way, West Malling, ME19 6HJ

outline planning application for up to 75 dwellings (including 40% affordable housing) with public open space, landscaping and sustainable drainage system (SuDS) and vehicular access point from Station Approach. All matters reserved except for means of access

Authority
Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council
Appeal type
major · Planning Appeal
Procedure
Hearing
Development
residential · Major dwellings
Inspector
Jordan A

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • the effect of the proposal on the significance of heritage assets (these have been identified as The St Mary's Abbey Complex, West Malling Railway Station, Church of St Mary the Virgin, West Malling Conservation Area, The Lavenders, St Leonards Tower and Eden Farm Oast House)
  • the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
  • whether or not the proposal would deliver an acceptable residential environment for future occupiers with regard to the effects of noise

What decided it

The very significant harm to the character and appearance of the countryside, combined with the cumulative heritage harm, was found to significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of the scheme, including housing delivery.

the very significant harm to character and appearance and the identified harm to heritage assets significantly and demonstrably outweighed the benefits of the scheme (including 75 dwellings with 40% affordable housing, economic benefits and biodiversity gain), so the tilted balance under paragraph 11d weighed against the proposal

Framework references: 11, 202

Plan policies cited: Policy CP24, Policy SQ1, Policy SQ2

Judgments cited: City and Country Bramshill Limited v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.

In the app this decision sits on the map beside every other appeal around it, with the full reasoning summary, the letter held on file, and the case law it applies.