Planning appeal decision
Land at Thurnham Lane, Thurnham, Kent, ME14 3LD
Planning appeal 3302094 at Land at Thurnham Lane, Thurnham, Kent, ME14 3LD (Maidstone Borough Council) was dismissed on 4 September 2023 by Inspector Hickey A, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the Kent Downs AONB.
outline application for the erection of 1no. three bedroom bungalow with cycle storage shelter and bin storage attached, associated hardstanding for two car parking spaces, the creation of two bunds and associated landscaping (Access being sought)
- Authority
- Maidstone Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Hickey A
- Postcode
- ME14 3LD
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the Kent Downs AONB
- whether the appeal site is a suitable location for the proposed development having regard to local and national planning policy for the delivery of housing and accessibility to services and facilities
- the effect of the proposal on protected species
- the effect of the proposed development on highway safety, with particular regard to the provision of visibility splays
What decided it
The proposal conflicts with the development plan in multiple respects—landscape harm to the AONB, unsustainable location with poor accessibility, unresolved protected species concerns, and undemonstrated highway safety—with no material considerations that would outweigh these harms.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy DM1Policy DM3Policy DM30Policy SP17Policy SS1
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 80Paragraph 176
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
Town Planner Pro holds this letter. The Appeals plan opens it and every other letter we hold, all of them searchable, with the main issues and what decided each case picked out. We do not show letters on the free site because they carry people’s names and addresses.
With an account
What an account adds to this decision


More decisions in Maidstone Borough Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2023
- Dismissed29 October 2026601053621 Tasker Close, Bearsted, Maidstone, ME15 8NZ
- Allowed27 October 20266015190Little Southernden, Southernden Road, Headcorn, TN27 9LL
- Allowed27 October 20266011721Loxley House, Gravelly Bottom Road, Kingswood, Maidstone, ME17 3NT
- Allowed27 October 20266011076Little Southernden, Southernden Road, Headcorn, TN27 9LL
- Allowed26 October 20266010539Land Rear Of 58 Church Street, Boughton Monchelsea, Maidstone, ME17 4HN
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.
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