®Planning appeal decision
Land at Upnor Road, , Upper Upnor , Rochester, Medway , ME2 4XE
the erection of 72 No residential dwellings including 18 x affordable housing and erection of Children’s Nursery (Use Class E(f)) associated car parking and infrastructure; new landscaping and public open spaces including new public rights of way and new bus stop; sustainable urban drainage system and associated earthworks and a new vehicular access from Upnor Road
- Authority
- Medway Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Inquiry
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Lee S
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the development would be in a suitable location with regard to relevant local and national policies on housing in rural areas
- The effect of the development on the landscape character, function and appearance of the area
- The effect of the development on highway and pedestrian safety in the vicinity of the site
What decided it
The substantial and permanent harm to the landscape character, function and appearance of the Hogmarsh Valley Area of Local Landscape Importance, which meant the adverse impacts of the development significantly and demonstrably outweighed its benefits.
The significant landscape harm to the ALLI, together with highway safety concerns, was found to significantly and demonstrably outweigh the substantial benefits of market and affordable housing and other lesser benefits, so the tilted balance did not apply and the proposal conflicted with the development plan as a whole.
Framework references: 11, 74, 79, 105, 110, 111, 174
Plan policies cited: Policy S1, Policy BNE25, Policy BNE34, Policy T1, Policy T2
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.