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Notice upheld20 October 20233297322

Fitchetts Farm Broad Lane, Fordcombe, Tunbridge Wells, TN3 0SR

Planning appeal 3297322 at Fitchetts Farm Broad Lane, Fordcombe, Tunbridge Wells, TN3 0SR (Sevenoaks District Council) was dismissed on 20 October 2023 by Inspector Dudley G, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt for the purposes of the National Planning Policy Framework and development plan policy.

change of use of part of the land and associated building from agricultural (B8) and use as a scaffolding yard without planning permission

Authority
Sevenoaks District Council
Appeal type
enforcement · Enforcement Notice
Procedure
Written Representations
Development
employment-industrial · Change of use
Inspector
Dudley G
Postcode
TN3 0SR

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • Whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt for the purposes of the National Planning Policy Framework and development plan policy
  • The effect on the openness of the Green Belt
  • The effect on the character and appearance of the area, including the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
  • If the development is inappropriate in the Green Belt, whether the harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, is clearly outweighed by other considerations, so as to amount to the very special circumstances necessary to justify the development

What decided it

The harm caused to the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty by the industrial-style appearance and vehicle movements associated with the scaffolding yard use outweighed the economic and diversification benefits claimed by the appellant.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
SADM Policy GB7SADM Policy EN1SADM Policy EN5Core Strategy Policy SP8

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.

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The decision letter

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More decisions in Sevenoaks

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

  1. Allowed1 October 20266004899
    Lower Fawke Farm, Bitchet Green Road, Fawke Common, Underriver, TN15 0JX
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  3. Allowed24 September 20266011192
    Land Surrounding The Stables, Underriver House Road, Underriver, TN15 0SJ
  4. Dismissed22 September 20266012481
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  5. Allowed22 September 20266012162
    Oakwood House, School Lane, West Kingsdown, TN15 6AW

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.