Planning appeal decision
Woodford Farm, Maidstone Road, Staplehurst, Kent, TN12 0RH
Planning appeal 3313828 at Woodford Farm, Maidstone Road, Staplehurst, Kent, TN12 0RH (Maidstone Borough Council) was dismissed on 9 October 2023 by Inspector Wright A, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area.
a full application for the demolition of the existing farm house and the construction of 4no. new residential dwellings with associated private amenity space, landscaping and parking
- Authority
- Maidstone Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Wright A
- Postcode
- TN12 0RH
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area
What decided it
The substantial harm to the character and appearance of the area, which would result from the height, size, proximity to Maidstone Road and urbanising effect of the proposed development, significantly and demonstrably outweighs the modest housing and economic benefits.
The modest housing supply benefit, limited economic benefits, and removal of an unsafe access were outweighed by substantial harm to character and appearance; the adverse impacts significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits when assessed against the Framework taken as a whole
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy SP17Policy DM1Policy DM30Policy PW2Policy SS1
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11
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
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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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