Isaacs Farm Livery, Franks Hollow Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN3 0UB

construction of equestrian track and associated works

Authority: Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: agricultural · Minor retail and services
Inspector: Jackson R

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

whether the development represents inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and any relevant development plan policies
the effect of the development on the openness of the Green Belt
the effect on the character, appearance and scenic beauty of the area being within the AONB
the effect on ecology
whether any harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, is clearly outweighed by other considerations, so as to amount to the very special circumstances required to justify the development

What decided it

The substantial weight given to harm to the Green Belt from inappropriate development and the great weight given to harm to the AONB landscape character are not outweighed by the moderate benefits to horse management and health.

Framework references: 138, 147, 148, 150, 174, 176, 219

Plan policies cited: Core Policy 2, Core Policy 4, Core Policy 14, Policy MGB1, Policy EN1, Policy EN13

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.

Every English appeal since 2016, with the letter behind it wherever the Inspectorate published one. Searched by meaning as well as by words, with the key case law counted live across the letters.

Casework that chases the deadlines. Applications, appeals and conditions with their statutory dates.

The judgement stays yours. The tool gathers the material and dates it.