®Planning appeal decision
Unit 1 Westwood Cottage Rock Hill , Orpington, Sevenoaks, Kent, BR6 7PP
Planning appeal 3287024 at Unit 1 Westwood Cottage Rock Hill , Orpington, Sevenoaks, Kent, BR6 7PP (Sevenoaks District Council) was dismissed on 12 April 2023 by Inspector Price A, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposed development is inappropriate development in the Green Belt for the purposes of the National Planning Policy Framework and development plan policies, and the effect on the openness of the Green Belt.
the demolition of existing light industrial units and removal of extensive areas of concrete hardstanding surrounding same and erection of 6x5-bed detached dwellings, 2x4-bed detached dwellings, and 1x3-bed (affordable) dwelling and one office with new planting to adjoining land in same ownership
- Authority
- Sevenoaks District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Price A
- Postcode
- BR6 7PP
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposed development is inappropriate development in the Green Belt for the purposes of the National Planning Policy Framework and development plan policies, and the effect on the openness of the Green Belt
- the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area, including on the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
- the effect of the proposed development on biodiversity and protected species
- whether the harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to amount to the very special circumstances required to justify the development
What decided it
The proposal would constitute inappropriate development in the Green Belt resulting in harmful loss of openness, and Framework paragraph 11.d(i) provides a clear reason for refusal based on Green Belt protection, which cannot be outweighed by the identified benefits.
the modest social and economic benefits of housing provision and construction employment did not clearly outweigh the substantial harm to the Green Belt and the harm to character and appearance of the AONB, and the balance tipped decisively against the proposal
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- SP1LO8EN1EN5SP11
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 149Paragraph 176Paragraph 174Paragraph 11
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
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With an account
What an account adds to this decision
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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.