®Planning appeal decision
Westfield Park Dairy, Swanton Street, Bredgar, ME9 8AP
described on the application form as the ‘conversion of detached single storey brick barn into 3-bedroom residential dwelling with associated parking and garden
- Authority
- Swale Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Change of use
- Inspector
- Price A
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the site is a suitable location for housing with particular regard to the accessibility of services and facilities
- the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the surrounding area, with particular regard to the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
What decided it
The site's location outside the settlement boundary in open countryside requiring car dependency, combined with the harm to rural character and AONB designation, outweighs the modest housing supply benefits.
The modest benefits of one new home and limited social and economic benefits were significantly and demonstrably outweighed by the harm to the settlement strategy, accessibility, character and appearance, and AONB protection.
Framework references: 80, 105, 174, 11
Plan policies cited: ST1, ST3, CP2, DM3, DM14, DM24, DM16
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.