Land Adjacent to Hole Street Farm, Kingsdown Road, Lynsted, Kent, ME9 0QX

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the site is an appropriate location for a new dwelling having regard to the spatial strategy of the development plan and whether future occupants would have reasonable access to services and facilities by means other than by private vehicle
• The effect of the proposed development on the character or appearance of Kingsdown Conservation Area and the setting of the nearby Listed Buildings

What decided it

The less than substantial harm to the designated heritage assets and the character of the conservation area, combined with the unsustainable location requiring reliance on private vehicles, significantly and demonstrably outweighed the modest benefits of one additional dwelling.

The less than substantial harm to the conservation area and listed building settings, weighed against the modest social and economic benefits of one dwelling and construction employment, tipped decisively against the proposal; the heritage harm was of particular importance and provided a clear reason for refusal.