Planning appeal decision
Margaret Cottage , Pean Hill, Whitstable, CT5 3BD
Planning appeal 3304415 at Margaret Cottage , Pean Hill, Whitstable, CT5 3BD (Canterbury City Council) was dismissed on 17 February 2023 by Inspector Smith H, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the site is a suitable location for the proposal having regard to local and national planning policy, and the accessibility of the site to services and facilities.
erection of 1no two-storey detached dwelling
- Authority
- Canterbury City Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Smith H
- Postcode
- CT5 3BD
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the site is a suitable location for the proposal having regard to local and national planning policy, and the accessibility of the site to services and facilities
- the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
What decided it
The proposal's location in unsustainable open countryside lacking safe access to services and facilities, combined with significant harm to rural character and appearance, means the adverse impacts significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits even in the context of housing delivery shortfall.
The limited benefits of housing contribution, economic activity and highway improvements were outweighed by the substantial harm to sustainability and rural character; the presumption in favour of sustainable development did not apply.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy SP1Policy SP4Policy HD4Policy DBE3
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 80Paragraph 11
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


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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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