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Dismissed3 June 20253259300

Monk Lakes, Staplehurst Road, Maidstone, Kent, TN12 9BS

Planning appeal 3259300 at Monk Lakes, Staplehurst Road, Maidstone, Kent, TN12 9BS (Maidstone Borough Council) was dismissed on 3 June 2025 by Inspector Ware P, following an inquiry. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The effect of the proposal on the setting of Hertsfield Barn.

Retention of lakes known as Bridges and Puma, retention and completion of part completed raised reservoir Lakes 1, 2 and 3 (all for angling purposes) along with a clubhouse and detailed landscaping scheme

Authority
Maidstone Borough Council
Appeal type
major · Planning Appeal
Procedure
Inquiry
Development
leisure-sport · Other Major Developments
Inspector
Ware P
Postcode
TN12 9BS

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • The effect of the proposal on the setting of Hertsfield Barn.
  • The effect of the proposal on the living conditions of residents of Hertsfield Barn and nos.3, 4, 5, and 6 Hertsfield Farm Cottages by reason of overlooking.
  • The effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the countryside.
  • Whether the proposal conflicts with the law related to retrospective EIA development.

What decided it

The cumulative less than substantial heritage harm, harm to neighbours' living conditions from overlooking, and harm to countryside character were not outweighed by the limited public benefits, compounded by conflict with the law on retrospective EIA development.

The limited recreational, tourism, economic and ecological benefits of the scheme came nowhere close to outweighing the less than substantial heritage harm, the harm to neighbouring living conditions, and the harm to landscape character, so the balance tipped decisively against the proposal.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
ENV1SP14(B)SP15SP9QD4BE1NE3DM7
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 215
Judgments
[2024] EWHC 1053 (Admin); R (Padden) v Maidstone BC [2014] EWHC 51 (Admin)

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 applied

The decision letter

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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.

In the app this decision sits on the map beside every appeal around it, with its letter to read and the main issues, policies and judgments cited picked out.