Planning appeal decision
Land at Oak Lane , Upchurch , Kent , ME9 7AY
Planning appeal 3261730 at Land at Oak Lane , Upchurch , Kent , ME9 7AY (Swale Borough Council) was dismissed on 3 December 2021 by Inspector Szymanski D, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the development upon the open countryside and important local countryside gap.
7no. residential dwellings with all matters reserved except for access (Suggested 2 bedroom, 3 bedroom and 4 bedroom mix)
- Authority
- Swale Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Szymanski D
- Postcode
- ME9 7AY
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the development upon the open countryside and important local countryside gap
- whether or not the development would be in a suitable location for accessibility to services and facilities
What decided it
The significant harm to the open countryside and important local countryside gap from the development significantly and demonstrably outweighs the moderate benefits of housing delivery when assessed against the policies of the Framework taken as a whole.
The moderate benefits of housing delivery and modest economic and community benefits were significantly and demonstrably outweighed by the significant harm to the open countryside and important local countryside gap.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy ST3Policy CP3Policy DM25Policy ST1Policy ST5Policy DM14Policy DM24
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 69Paragraph 85Paragraph 105Paragraph 174
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 Swale
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2021
- Dismissed13 October 20266004547Land at Plumpudding Lane, Dargate, ME13 9HB
- Allowed1 October 202660147498, Ospringe Road, Faversham, ME13 7LJ
- Dismissed25 September 20266010408Pigeon Farm Cottage, Cold Harbour Lane, Bobbing, ME9 8NN
- Allowed6 August 20266011728Irie, Minster Drive, Minster-on-Sea, ME12 2NG
- Dismissed14 July 20266002253Land East Of Holywell Primary School, Forge Lane, Upchurch, ME9 7AD
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.
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