Merrie Weathers, Rooks Hill, Underriver, Kent, TN15 0SL

‘Removal of existing tennis court, demolition of ancillary two storey domestic barn and stables and erection of new ancillary single storey building’

Authority: Sevenoaks District Council
Appeal type: householder · Householder (HAS)
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Householder developments
Inspector: Douglas L

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and any relevant development plan policies
The effect of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt
The effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area, with particular regard to the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)

What decided it

The proposed building would not be materially larger than the combined footprint and volume of the former barn and stables it replaces, falling within the NPPF paragraph 149(d) exception and therefore not constituting inappropriate development in the Green Belt.

Framework references: 147, 149, 54

Plan policies cited: Policy GB3, Policy EN5, Policy SP11

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.

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