Sharps Hill Farm Queen Street, Sandhurst, CRANBROOK, TN18 5HR

residential development of up to 16 no. dwellings with associated parking, amenity and landscaping

Authority: Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Change of use
Inspector: Miles H

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area with particular respect to the countryside setting and the landscape and scenic beauty of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
the effect of the proposed development on the setting of nearby heritage assets including the Sandhurst Conservation Area, Grade II listed Bayford House and the non-designated heritage asset Sharps Hill Oast

What decided it

The permanent and public harm to the intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside and the landscape and scenic beauty of the AONB, which has the highest status of protection in relation to these issues, outweighs the moderate benefits of housing delivery and affordable housing provision.

The moderate benefits of housing delivery and affordable housing provision would not outweigh the public and permanent harm to the intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside and the landscape and scenic beauty of the AONB, which has the highest status of protection.

Framework references: 11, 202

Plan policies cited: Core Policy 4, Core Policy 14, Core Policy 6, Policy LBD1, Policy EN1, Policy EN25, Policy EN5

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.

What an account adds

Draw a red line around your site and the appraisal follows.

Heritage. Listed buildings by grade and distance, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, heritage at risk.
Landscape and environment. Green belt, national parks and national landscapes, SSSIs, ancient woodland, SPA, SAC and Ramsar sites, nutrient catchments.
Flooding. Flood zones 2 and 3, surface water, and both again with climate change.
Transport. The 800 metre station catchment and service frequency, bus stops with their weekday frequency, the cycle network, and the Framework’s transport tests measured for the site.

Then the development plan position, the housing land supply as an Inspector last accepted it, and every appeal decided around the site with its letter.

Every English appeal since 2016, with the letter behind it wherever the Inspectorate published one. Searched by meaning as well as by words, with the key case law counted live across the letters.

Casework that chases the deadlines. Applications, appeals and conditions with their statutory dates.

The judgement stays yours. The tool gathers the material and dates it.