Meopham Veterinary Hospital, Wrotham Road, South Street, Meopham, GRAVESEND, DA13 0QG

A 368m2 extension to an existing veterinary hospital, comprising a euthanasia room, hospital pharmacy, clinical storage/medical records room, surgical instrument preparation and autoclaves room, endoscopy and ethylene oxide room, library and clinical offices and meeting space, kitchen, staff restroom and dining area, and on-call bedroom with ensuite and disabled toilet facilities, as well as the change of use of land to form an extended carpark with EV charging comprising 10no. additional parking spaces on the adjoining parcel of land

Authority: Gravesham Borough Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: community-institutional · Change of use
Inspector: Carpenter C

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

the effect of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt
the effect of the proposal on the Meopham Downs Landscape Character Area
whether any harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations, so as to amount to the very special circumstances required to justify the proposal

What decided it

The harms to the Green Belt by virtue of inappropriateness and loss of openness, and the significant harm to the Meopham Downs Landscape Character Area, were not clearly outweighed by the other considerations advanced, so very special circumstances did not exist to justify the development.

Framework references: 137, 148, 147

Plan policies cited: Policy CS12, Policy CS19, Policy CS07

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

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What an account adds

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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.

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