Planesfield, High Halden, Ashford, Kent, TN26 3HU

change of use of land for a gypsy traveller site and the stationing of two static caravans, one touring caravan, the erection of stable block, hardstanding parking and turning areas and installation of subterranean sewerage bio- digester (revision to planning permission 15/01374/AS)

Authority: Ashford Borough Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: caravan-gypsy · Change of use
Inspector: Smith D

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area
Whether any harm arising would be outweighed by other material considerations including the need for and likely future provision of sites for gypsies and travellers in the Borough

What decided it

The Council's inability to provide specific deliverable sites to meet identified accommodation needs for gypsies and travellers, combined with the proposal's compliance with Policy HOU16 and limited harm to character, substantially outweighed the small negative effect on countryside character.

Plan policies cited: Policy SP1, Policy SP6, Policy ENV3a, Policy HOU16

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.

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