®Planning appeal decision
51 High Street, ASHFORD, Kent, TN24 8SG
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
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
Framework references: 11
Plan policies cited: Policy SP3, Policy EMP7, Policy HOU3a criterion h)
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.