®Planning appeal decision
114 High Street, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 1UZ
Planning appeal 3314396 at 114 High Street, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 1UZ (Sevenoaks District Council) was dismissed on 2 October 2023 by Inspector Pearce J, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposal preserves or enhances the character or appearance of the Sevenoaks High Street Conservation Area.
the change of use to make former 1st floor offices into a domestic apartment. Retain Ground Floor as a shop unit
- Authority
- Sevenoaks District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Change of use
- Inspector
- Pearce J
- Postcode
- TN13 1UZ
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposal preserves or enhances the character or appearance of the Sevenoaks High Street Conservation Area
- whether suitable living conditions would be provided for future occupants of the development with regard to outlook and natural light
What decided it
The replacement window's less than substantial harm to the conservation area, combined with the poor outlook for future occupants, outweighed the limited public benefit of delivering one dwelling in a location with no five-year housing land supply.
The Council's inability to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply engaged the presumption in favour of sustainable development, but the harmful effect on the conservation area and poor living conditions meant the heritage protection policies provided a clear reason for refusal, and the development did not conform with the presumption in favour of sustainable development.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy EN4Policy EN1Policy EN2Policy SP1
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 202
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
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The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2023
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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.