®Planning appeal decision
The Finches Caravan and Camping Site, Chartway Street, East Sutton, Maidstone, Kent, ME17 3DN
Planning appeal 3278941 at The Finches Caravan and Camping Site, Chartway Street, East Sutton, Maidstone, Kent, ME17 3DN (Maidstone Borough Council) was dismissed on 23 May 2022 by Inspector Buchanan R, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposed development would result in the loss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitat, in this case ancient woodland.
a change of use of land and the stationing of 12 no. holiday cabins, landscaping and access
- Authority
- Maidstone Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- leisure-sport · Change of use
- Inspector
- Buchanan R
- Postcode
- ME17 3DN
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposed development would result in the loss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitat, in this case ancient woodland
- whether any harm to irreplaceable habitat would be clearly outweighed by other matters, so as to amount to wholly exceptional reasons necessary to justify the development
What decided it
The proposed development would result in significant harm by loss and deterioration of irreplaceable ancient woodland habitat, and the appellant failed to demonstrate wholly exceptional reasons to justify this harm, contrary to NPPF paragraph 180(c).
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy DM3
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 174Paragraph 180
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 appliedThe decision letter
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With an account
What an account adds to this decision
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- Allowed25 April 20253350797Neverend Farm, Pye Corner, Ulcombe, Maidstone, Kent, ME17 1EF
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.