Eden Park Farm Love Lane, Headcorn, ASHFORD, TN27 9HL

the change of use of land for a 2 pitch Gypsy site with associated development (utility block, hard standing, landscaping) – part retrospective

Authority: Maidstone Borough Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Hearing
Development: caravan-gypsy · Minor traveller and caravan pitches
Inspector: Wood T

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

The main issue in this appeal is the effects of the proposal on the landscape character of the area.

What decided it

The finding that the landscape harm arising from the proposal would be moderate rather than 'significant' harm as required to engage a policy objection under Policy DM15.

the moderate, mitigable landscape harm did not amount to 'significant harm' under Policy DM15, so no conflict with the development plan arose and the appeal succeeded on its merits without needing to weigh gypsy site supply or personal circumstances

Plan policies cited: Policy DM15, Policy SS1, Policy SP17, Policy DM3, Policy DM30

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.

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What an account adds

Draw a red line around your site and the appraisal follows.
- Heritage. Listed buildings by grade and distance, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, heritage at risk.
- Landscape and environment. Green belt, national parks and national landscapes, SSSIs, ancient woodland, SPA, SAC and Ramsar sites, nutrient catchments.
- Flooding. Flood zones 2 and 3, surface water, and both again with climate change.
- Transport. The 800 metre station catchment and service frequency, bus stops with their weekday frequency, the cycle network, and the Framework’s transport tests measured for the site.
Then the development plan position, the housing land supply as an Inspector last accepted it, and every appeal decided around the site with its letter.
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