Horsmonden Road, Brenchley, Kent, TN12 7AT

erection of a 4 bed chalet bungalow

Authority: Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector: Smith J

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

whether the proposed development would provide a suitable location for housing, having regard to the level of accessibility to services and facilities
the effect on the character and appearance of the area, including the landscape character of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
whether the proposal would comply with national planning policy which seeks to steer new development away from areas at the highest risk of flooding
the effect on ancient woodland

What decided it

The combination of harm to the AONB landscape, unacceptable risk of deterioration to ancient woodland, and location in high flood risk area, all of which are protected assets under Framework paragraph 11(d)(i) and Footnote 7, provided clear reasons for refusal notwithstanding the housing land supply shortfall.

The presumption in favour of sustainable development under paragraph 11 was disapplied because the protective policies in the Framework for the AONB, irreplaceable habitats and flood risk areas provided clear reasons for refusing the development.

Framework references: 11, 176, 180, 180c

Plan policies cited: Policy LBD1, Policy EN25, Policy EN1, Policy EN13, Policy EN15, Policy EN18, Core Policy 4, Core Policy 5, Core Policy 6, Core Policy 14

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.