Oak Tree Farm, London Road, Halstead, Kent, TN14 7AB

1) Change of use of land for the siting of 3 caravans (1 mobile home and 2 tourers) for residential use; 2) Change of use of land to storage of containers, skips, machinery, unused mobile homes, lorries, hardcore material and other miscellaneous items; 3) Erection of a steel frame structure connected to existing outbuilding and laying of hardstanding floor slab adjacent to the existing outbuilding

Authority: Sevenoaks District Council
Appeal type: enforcement · Enforcement Notice
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: other · Change of use
Inspector: Peerless K

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

On ground (c): whether the developments enforced against in allegations 1 and 3 are development permitted by Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015 (as amended)
On ground (a): whether the developments enforced against represent inappropriate development within the Green Belt and, if so, whether there are any material considerations that outweigh the harm caused by such development, and the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the surrounding area
On ground (f): whether the requirements of the enforcement notice exceed what is necessary to remedy the breach of planning control
On ground (g): whether the time for compliance is reasonable

What decided it

The steel frame extension is inappropriate development in the Green Belt causing material harm to openness, and no very special circumstances justify it; the caravans constitute unauthorised change of use requiring removal.

Framework references: 147, 148

Plan policies cited: Policy GB3, Policy GB8

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

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Heritage. Listed buildings by grade and distance, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, heritage at risk.
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Flooding. Flood zones 2 and 3, surface water, and both again with climate change.
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