®Planning appeal decision
Smeeth Hill House, Hythe Road, Smeeth, ASHFORD, TN25 6ST
- Authority
- Ashford Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor traveller and caravan pitches
- Inspector
- Wilkinson F
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the site would represent a suitable location for the development having regard to the development strategy for the area
- the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area
- the effect of the development on the Stodmarsh European Site
What decided it
The significant harm to character and appearance caused by the prominent static caravan in an otherwise open, green and rural setting, combined with the unsustainable location contrary to the development strategy and unresolved impacts on the Stodmarsh European Site, outweighed the limited housing and economic benefits.
The adverse impacts of the development, comprising locational unsuitability, significant harm to character and appearance, and unresolved European Site impacts, significantly and demonstrably outweighed the limited benefits from temporary housing provision and modest economic benefits.
Framework references: 80, 11
Plan policies cited: Policy SP1, Policy SP2, Policy HOU5, Policy HOU9, Policy ENV3a, Policy SP6, Policy ENV1
Judgments cited: Braintree DC v SSCLG, Greyread Ltd & Granville Developments Ltd [2018] EWCA Civ 610
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.