Land at Reed Wood Farm, Mill Street, Iden Green, Cranbrook, Kent, TN17 4HH

Retention of a forestry building, retention of a mobile welfare unit in situ, retention of lean-to and proposed works to repair and maintain an existing access track (Part Retrospective)

Authority: Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: employment-industrial · Other minor developments
Inspector: Conde L

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether the development affects ancient woodland, and if so, whether there are wholly exceptional reasons and a suitable compensation strategy for the development
The effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area, including the High Weald National Landscape (HWNL)
The effect of the development on biodiversity interest

What decided it

The development has caused unjustified harm to the character and appearance of the High Weald National Landscape through loss of mature woodland and trees, and the appellant failed to provide adequate evidence to demonstrate that biodiversity impacts could be suitably mitigated, conflicting with development plan policies and the Framework.

Plan policies cited: Policy EN13, Core Policy 14, Core Policy 4, Policy EN1, Policy EN25, Policy LBD1

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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