Town Planner Pro
Free trial
Search appeal decisions

Planning appeal decision

Notice upheld13 December 20213271033

Leydens Farm , Lydens Lane, Hever, TN8 7EP

Planning appeal 3271033 at Leydens Farm , Lydens Lane, Hever, TN8 7EP (Sevenoaks District Council) was dismissed on 13 December 2021 by Inspector Steen A, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the development comprises inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and any relevant development plan policies.

erection of an office building without planning permission (as shown edged blue on Plan B)

Authority
Sevenoaks District Council
Appeal type
enforcement · Enforcement Notice
Procedure
Written Representations
Development
employment-industrial · Major offices/R&D/light industry
Inspector
Steen A
Postcode
TN8 7EP

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • Whether the development comprises inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and any relevant development plan policies
  • The effect of the development on the openness of the Green Belt and the purposes of including land within it
  • The effect of the development on the landscape and scenic beauty of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
  • Whether there are other considerations weighing in favour of the development
  • Whether the harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, is clearly outweighed by other considerations. If so, does this amount to the very special circumstances required to justify the proposal

What decided it

The substantial weight given to Green Belt harm and landscape harm to the AONB was not clearly outweighed by the modest employment and business sustainability benefits, failing to demonstrate very special circumstances.

The substantial weight to be given to Green Belt harm and landscape harm to the AONB was not clearly outweighed by the modest weight attributable to employment provision and business sustainability benefits.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy LO8 of the Sevenoaks District Council Core StrategyPolicy GB9 of the Allocations and Development Management PlanPolicy EN5 of the Allocations and Development Management Plan

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

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.

Appeals plan, £15 a month

With an account

What an account adds to this decision

16 other decided appeals within two kilometres of this site. In the app every dot opens its decision, and its letter wherever one was published, and you can draw your own site to see what has been decided around it.AllowedDismissedSplitThis decision
An appeal decision in the app, with the main issues, policies and judgments cited picked out beside the letter
Every letter, there to read. We pick out the main issues, the policies and the judgments cited, so you can work through the letter faster.
Searching the full text of appeal decision letters in the app
Search inside every letter. By words or by meaning, filtered by authority, outcome, appeal type and procedure, with every locatable decision on the map and the Inspector named on each.
Start your free trial

More decisions in Sevenoaks

The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2021

  1. Allowed1 October 20266004899
    Lower Fawke Farm, Bitchet Green Road, Fawke Common, Underriver, TN15 0JX
  2. Planning permission granted28 September 20263378336
    Land South East Of Oaklands, St Clere Hill Road, West Kingsdown, Kent, TN15 6AH
  3. Allowed24 September 20266011192
    Land Surrounding The Stables, Underriver House Road, Underriver, TN15 0SJ
  4. Dismissed22 September 20266012481
    Well Hill Nursery, Fountain Farm, Firmingers Road, Orpington, BR6 7QH
  5. Allowed22 September 20266012162
    Oakwood House, School Lane, West Kingsdown, TN15 6AW

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.