®Planning appeal decision
The Woodlands, Hempstead Road, Hempstead, Gillingham, Kent, ME7 3QL
Without the benefit of planning permission the material change of use of the Property to a mixed use for a scrap yard, vehicle breaking and repair, waste deposit, processing and transfer, residential and forestry
- Authority
- Medway Council
- Appeal type
- enforcement · Enforcement Notice
- Procedure
- Inquiry
- Development
- minerals-waste · Change of use
- Inspector
- Dignan P
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- The effect of the scrap yard use on the character and appearance of the area, having regard to the economic and social benefits of the use, along with any environmental or other benefits that might be secured through a grant of planning permission
What decided it
The harm to landscape character and appearance caused by the scrap yard's urbanising encroachment into the countryside outweighed the moderate economic, social and environmental benefits put forward for retaining it.
Moderate weight given to the economic/social benefits of the scrap yard and to the potential ancient woodland enhancement scheme did not outweigh the conflict with the development plan arising from harm to landscape character and appearance caused by the scrap yard use.
Plan policies cited: Policy BNE25, Policy BNE26, Policy BNE34
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.