Fountain Far, Well Hill Nursery, Firmingers Road, ORPINGTON, Kent, BR6 7QH

remodelling of existing shed and change of use of barn

Authority: Sevenoaks District Council
Appeal type: enforcement · Enforcement Notice
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: employment-industrial · Change of use
Inspector: Walker A

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

whether or not the development constitutes inappropriate development in the Green Belt
the effect of the development on the openness of the Green Belt
the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
the effect of the development on the living conditions of nearby residential occupiers, particularly as regards noise and disturbance
the effect of the development upon highway safety from any increase in vehicular activity
would the harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, be clearly outweighed by other considerations. If so, would this amount to the very special circumstances required to justify the proposal?

What decided it

The material change of use to industrial purposes with associated external storage, machinery and vehicular activity causes significant harm to Green Belt openness, AONB character and appearance, and neighbouring residential living conditions, with no very special circumstances advanced to justify the inappropriate development.

Framework references: 11, 13, 115, 153, 154, 155, 182

Plan policies cited: Policy LO1, Policy LO8, Policy SP1, Policy EN2, Policy EN5

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.

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