Park Field, New Road Hill, Bonnington, Kent, TN25 7AY

change of use of land for the siting of mobile home for use as an agricultural workers dwelling; formation of a vehicular access; erection of agricultural building and ancillary development

Authority: Ashford Borough Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Hearing
Development: agricultural · Minor Dwellings
Inspector: Bowyer J

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

whether or not there is an essential need for the development proposed on the site, including with regard to: (i) whether or not it is necessary for a rural worker to live on the site, and (ii) whether or not there is a realistic prospect of the enterprise becoming viable and sustainable
the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the landscape

What decided it

The Inspector's finding that there was an essential need for a rural worker to live on the site to manage the proposed livestock enterprise, coupled with no harm to landscape character.

The very limited benefits of housing supply and business support were not outweighed by any significant adverse impacts, and as the proposal accorded with the development plan as a whole, permission was granted.

Framework references: 11, 111

Plan policies cited: HOU5, EMP5, SP1, SP6, ENV3a, TRA5, TRA7

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

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.

What an account adds

Draw a red line around your site and the appraisal follows.

Heritage. Listed buildings by grade and distance, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, heritage at risk.
Landscape and environment. Green belt, national parks and national landscapes, SSSIs, ancient woodland, SPA, SAC and Ramsar sites, nutrient catchments.
Flooding. Flood zones 2 and 3, surface water, and both again with climate change.
Transport. The 800 metre station catchment and service frequency, bus stops with their weekday frequency, the cycle network, and the Framework’s transport tests measured for the site.

Then the development plan position, the housing land supply as an Inspector last accepted it, and every appeal decided around the site with its letter.

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