Planning appeal decision
Crittenden House Crittenden Road, Matfield, Tonbridge, TN12 7EN
Planning appeal 3287487 at Crittenden House Crittenden Road, Matfield, Tonbridge, TN12 7EN (Tunbridge Wells Borough Council) was allowed on 18 April 2023 by Inspector Jackson P, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the proposed dwelling would be in a sustainable location, having regard to national and local planning policy.
construction of new dwelling in place of permitted residential conversion
- Authority
- Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Jackson P
- Postcode
- TN12 7EN
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the proposed dwelling would be in a sustainable location, having regard to national and local planning policy
- The effect on the character and appearance of the area
- The effect of the proposed development on the setting of Crittenden House and garden which is listed at Grade II, and the effect on the setting of the historic park farmstead which is a non-designated heritage asset
- The effect on biological and ecological interests
What decided it
The realistic fallback position of the extant permission for residential conversion meant that the proposed new dwelling, being significantly less visually obtrusive and more sympathetic to the character, appearance and heritage setting, represented a preferable outcome to the permitted scheme.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- LBD1EN1EN25Core Policy 4Core Policy 14
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 176
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.
®