®Planning appeal decision
Ashton Way, West Malling, ME19 6HJ
Planning appeal 3254563 at Ashton Way, West Malling, ME19 6HJ (Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council) was dismissed on 15 March 2022 by Inspector Jordan A, following a hearing. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: 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).
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
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Hearing
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Jordan A
- Postcode
- ME19 6HJ
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
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy CP24Policy SQ1Policy SQ2
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 202
- Judgments
- City and Country Bramshill Limited v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.
See how each was appliedThe decision letter
Town Planner Pro holds this letter. The Appeals plan opens it and every other letter we hold, all of them searchable, with the main issues and what decided each case picked out. We do not show letters on the free site because they carry people’s names and addresses.
With an account
What an account adds to this decision
More decisions in Tonbridge and Malling
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2022
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- Dismissed5 August 20253353979Ryarsh Place Farm, Birling Road, Ryarsh, Kent, ME19 5LS
- Allowed22 July 20253361029Parkview, 113 High Street, Tonbridge, TN9 1DL
- Allowed2 April 20253353896Land Opposite Grange Road at, Maidstone Road, Sevenoaks, Kent
The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.