®Planning appeal decision
Horsmonden Road, Brenchley, Kent, TN12 7AT
Planning appeal 3283836 at Horsmonden Road, Brenchley, Kent, TN12 7AT (Tunbridge Wells Borough Council) was dismissed on 10 May 2023 by Inspector Smith J, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposed development would provide a suitable location for housing, having regard to the level of accessibility to services and facilities.
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
- Postcode
- TN12 7AU
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.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy LBD1Policy EN25Policy EN1Policy EN13Policy EN15Policy EN18Core Policy 4Core Policy 5Core Policy 6Core Policy 14
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 176Paragraph 180Paragraph 180c
How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.
See how each was appliedThe decision letter
Town Planner Pro holds this letter. The Appeals plan opens it and every other letter we hold, all of them searchable, with the main issues and what decided each case picked out. We do not show letters on the free site because they carry people’s names and addresses.
With an account
What an account adds to this decision
More decisions in Tunbridge Wells
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2023
- Dismissed20 October 20266012604Manchester House The Heath, Horsmonden, TN12 8HT
- Dismissed21 September 202660052291 The Down Cottages, Lamberhurst Down, Lamberhurst, TN3 8EX
- Dismissed21 September 202660052251 The Down Cottages, Lamberhurst Down, Lamberhurst, TN3 8EX
- Allowed3 September 20266012775Flat 3, 49 Madeira Park, Royal Tunbridge Wells, TN2 5SY
- Dismissed28 August 202660062602 Ashfield Cottages, Horns Hill, Hawkhurst, Cranbrook, TN18 4XD
The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.