®Planning appeal decision
Land Between Blackthorn Avenue And Aspen Way, Southborough, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN4 9YB
Planning appeal 3299852 at Land Between Blackthorn Avenue And Aspen Way, Southborough, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN4 9YB (Tunbridge Wells Borough Council) was dismissed on 26 July 2023 by Inspector Shearing C, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effects of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area, with particular regard to the loss of open space and effects on nearby trees.
erection of two residential dwellings (Use Class C3), associated hard and soft landscaping works and two car parking spaces
- Authority
- Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Shearing C
- Postcode
- TN4 9YB
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effects of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area, with particular regard to the loss of open space and effects on nearby trees
- effects on accessibility and highway safety
- whether the proposal would provide an acceptable standard of accommodation for its future occupiers in terms of overshadowing
What decided it
The substantial and long-lasting harms to character and appearance, highway safety, and living conditions significantly and demonstrably outweigh the limited housing and environmental benefits of the two-dwelling scheme, such that the tilted balance under paragraph 11(d) of the Framework does not favour the proposal.
The adverse impacts of granting planning permission, comprising substantial harm to character and appearance, highway safety, and living conditions, significantly and demonstrably outweigh the moderate benefits of housing contribution and green credentials, when assessed against the policies in the Framework as a whole, such that the presumption in favour of sustainable development does not apply.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy EN1Core Policy 4Policy EN13Policy H5Policy TP4Core Policy 3Core Policy 5
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 130Paragraph 131Paragraph 111Paragraph 119
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.
See how each was appliedThe decision letter
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With an account
What an account adds to this decision
More decisions in Tunbridge Wells
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2023
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- Dismissed10 July 20266007903Porters Lodge, Ferndale Gardens, Royal Tunbridge Wells, TN2 3PL
- Allowed19 December 20253366410Uphill, New Pond Road, Benenden, Cranbrook, Kent, TN17 4EJ
- Dismissed1 July 2025336368314 Prospect Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 4SQ
- Dismissed22 October 20243343315Former Agricultural Building, Land West of Brewer Street, Lamberhurst, Kent, TN3 8DY
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.