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Allowed26 January 20233292840

51 High Street, Ashford, Kent, TN24 8SG

Planning appeal 3292840 at 51 High Street, Ashford, Kent, TN24 8SG (Ashford Borough Council) was allowed on 26 January 2023 by Inspector Cooper W, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The effect of the proposal on the vitality and viability of Ashford town centre.

change of use from commercial with accommodation above, to two separate dwelling houses. Appeal B: APP/E2205/Y/22/3292840 51 High Street, Ashford TN24 8SG

Authority
Ashford Borough Council
Appeal type
other · Listed Building Consent & Conservation Area Consent Appeal
Procedure
Written Representations
Development
residential · Change of use
Inspector
Cooper W
Postcode
TN24 8SG

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • The effect of the proposal on the vitality and viability of Ashford town centre
  • The effect of the proposal on the integrity of the Stodmarsh Lakes Special Protection Area (SPA), Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Ramsar site
  • Whether the submitted details would preserve the Grade II* listed building, 51-55 High Street or any features of special architectural or historic interest that it possesses

What decided it

The significant harm to town centre vitality and viability from loss of commercial use, which is not outweighed by the modest housing benefit even under the tilted balance, led to dismissal of Appeal A; the acceptability of the detailed conversion drawings led to approval of Appeal B.

the modest housing benefit of two one-bedroom dwellings and associated socio-economic benefits were significantly and demonstrably outweighed by the identified harm to the economic vitality and viability of Ashford town centre from loss of commercial use

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy SP3Policy EMP7Policy HOU3a criterion h)
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 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 applied

The decision letter

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More decisions in Ashford Borough Council

The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2023

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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.

In the app this decision sits on the map beside every appeal around it, with its letter to read and the main issues, policies and judgments cited picked out.