®Planning appeal decision
4-12 Lowfield Street, Dartford, DA1 1HA
Planning appeal 3258837 at 4-12 Lowfield Street, Dartford, DA1 1HA (Dartford Borough Council) was dismissed on 6 December 2021 by Inspector Parsons J, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposal would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Dartford Town Centre Conservation Area.
Demolish the existing building and retain the Lowfield Street facade and basement to allow for the provision of commercial space (predominantly A1 with some flexibility for A2/A3 (or A2/A3/B1/D1 to Market Street)) on the ground floor and five stories of residential accommodation (C3) above containing 26 flats in total (Mix of Studio, 1-Bed and 2-Bed Flats). Provision of bins and bicycle stores, communal entrance from Market Street and a central communal courtyard for shared amenity space
- Authority
- Dartford Borough Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Parsons J
- Postcode
- DA1 1HA
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposal would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Dartford Town Centre Conservation Area
- the setting of Grade II listed buildings at 11 and 15 High Street
- affordable housing
- the living conditions of future occupiers of a second floor flat, having regard to the provision of outdoor amenity space and outlook
- the living conditions of the occupiers of 11 to 17 High Street, having regard to outlook, sunlight, daylight and privacy
- vehicular parking and sustainable modes of transport
What decided it
The significant harm to the character and appearance of the Conservation Area and the setting of the listed buildings, combined with poor living conditions for one flat occupier, outweighed the economic, social and environmental benefits of the scheme.
The economic, social and environmental benefits of housing delivery and commercial floorspace were outweighed by significant harm to the character and appearance of the Conservation Area, harm to the setting of listed buildings, and poor living conditions for residents of a second floor flat.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy DP2Policy DP4Policy DP5Policy DP9Policy DP12Policy DP13Policy DP15Policy CS2Policy CS17Policy CS19
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 105
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
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- Notice varied and upheld27 January 20263345526Land at Benlin Farm Cottage, Trollingdown Hill, Green Street, Green Road, Darenth, DA2 6NR
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.