®Planning appeal decision
Land between Woodchurch Road and Appledore Road, Tenterden, Kent, TN30 7AY
- Authority
- Ashford Borough Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Inquiry
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Whitehead M
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- The Council's five-year Housing Land Supply (HLS) position in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework
- The effect of the proposal on the sustainable distribution of housing development in the Borough
- Its effect on the character and appearance of the surrounding area, including its effect on existing trees
- Its effect on ecology and biodiversity
- Its effect on community space and facilities in the area
- Its effect on pedestrian access and safety in the area, with particular regard to an unconfirmed Public Right of Way (PRoW) AB70
What decided it
The Council's inability to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply engaged the tilted balance, and the benefits of the scheme (particularly housing and affordable housing delivery) were not significantly and demonstrably outweighed by the identified harm to character and appearance.
The substantial benefits of market and affordable housing delivery, together with moderate/minor benefits to ecology, recreation, community facilities and drainage, were not significantly and demonstrably outweighed by the substantial harm to character and appearance, so the tilted balance favoured allowing the appeal despite conflict with the development plan as a whole.
Framework references: 11, 56, 62, 65, 69, 174, 180, 219
Plan policies cited: Policy SP1, Policy SP2, Policy SP6, Policy HOU1, Policy HOU5, Policy HOU6, Policy HOU12, Policy HOU15, Policy ENV1, Policy ENV3a, Policy ENV4, Policy TRA3, Policy TRA5, Policy TRA6, Policy IMP1, Policy IMP2, Policy IMP4, Policy COM1, Policy COM2, Policy COM3, Policy COM4, Policy TEN NP2
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.