The Finches Caravan and Camping Site, Chartway Street, East Sutton, Maidstone, Kent, ME17 3DN

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

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).

Framework references: 174, 180

Plan policies cited: Policy DM3

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

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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.
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