Planning appeal decision
Land to East of Chapel Lane, Thurnham, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 4PQ
Planning appeal 3266837 at Land to East of Chapel Lane, Thurnham, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 4PQ (Maidstone Borough Council) was dismissed on 4 November 2021 by Inspector Davies N, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The effect of the proposed development upon the character and appearance of the area, including the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
residential development of 2 detached dwellings
- Authority
- Maidstone Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Davies N
- Postcode
- ME14 4PQ
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- The effect of the proposed development upon the character and appearance of the area, including the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
What decided it
The proposal would cause substantial harm to the character and appearance of the countryside and the setting of the Kent Downs AONB, which provides a clear reason for refusal under paragraph 11d)1 of the Framework, displacing the presumption in favour of sustainable development.
The limited contribution to housing supply does not outweigh the conflict with development plan policies and the Framework protecting the countryside and AONB setting.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy SP17Policy DM1Policy DM30
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11
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 Maidstone Borough Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2021
- Dismissed29 October 2026601053621 Tasker Close, Bearsted, Maidstone, ME15 8NZ
- Allowed27 October 20266015190Little Southernden, Southernden Road, Headcorn, TN27 9LL
- Allowed27 October 20266011721Loxley House, Gravelly Bottom Road, Kingswood, Maidstone, ME17 3NT
- Allowed27 October 20266011076Little Southernden, Southernden Road, Headcorn, TN27 9LL
- Allowed26 October 20266010539Land Rear Of 58 Church Street, Boughton Monchelsea, Maidstone, ME17 4HN
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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