Planning appeal decision
Vine Cottage, Sutton Street, Bearsted, Maidstone, ME14 4HP
Planning appeal 3313817 at Vine Cottage, Sutton Street, Bearsted, Maidstone, ME14 4HP (Maidstone Borough Council) was dismissed on 21 April 2023 by Inspector Bennett K, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The effect of the development on the character and appearance of the host property and surrounding area.
the demolition of an existing garage and outbuilding and construction of part single/part two storey rear and side extensions and associated works
- Authority
- Maidstone Borough Council
- Appeal type
- householder · Householder (HAS)
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Householder developments
- Inspector
- Bennett K
- Postcode
- ME14 4HP
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- The effect of the development on the character and appearance of the host property and surrounding area
- The effect on the living conditions of the occupiers of the adjoining residential property Pin Cottage
What decided it
The combined impact of the first floor rear gable element and first floor side extension would overwhelm the character and appearance of the existing cottage and create an overbearing impact on neighbouring living conditions, contrary to local plan policies DM1, DM30 and DM32.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy DM1Policy DM30Policy DM32
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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