Planning appeal decision
Newstead Farm Couchman Green Lane, Maidstone, TN12 0RT
Planning appeal 3311972 at Newstead Farm Couchman Green Lane, Maidstone, TN12 0RT (Maidstone Borough Council) was dismissed on 10 July 2023 by Inspector Hall C, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the surrounding area.
Demolition of existing agricultural barn and erection of 2 residential dwellings with associated parking, landscaping and ecology enhancements
- Authority
- Maidstone Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Hall C
- Postcode
- TN12 0RT
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the surrounding area
- flood risk
What decided it
The proposed houses would introduce visually domineering and incongruous gable elements that would not reflect the uncomplicated and robust design of the existing barn, resulting in harm to the character and appearance of the surrounding area contrary to local plan and NPPF policy.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy SS1Policy SP17Policy DM1Policy DM30Policy DM31Policy PW2
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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