Wyndrush, 6 Headcorn Road, Platts Heath, Kent, ME17 2NH

described on the application form as: ‘Proposed replacement of single bungalow with a development of seven houses

Authority: Maidstone Borough Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Hearing
Development: residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector: Douglas L

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether the appeal site is a suitable location for the proposed development, with regard to local and national policies
the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area
the effect of the proposed development on the living conditions of occupiers of neighbouring residential properties at 3 School Lane and 7 and 9 Lenham Road, with particular regard to outlook and privacy
the effect of the proposed development on the Stodmarsh Special Area of Conservation (SAC), Special Protection Area (SPA) and Ramsar site

What decided it

The cumulative conflict with the development plan arising from the unsustainable location, harm to rural character, and unacceptable harm to neighbours' living conditions outweighed the modest benefits of the scheme.

The modest benefits of the proposal, together with any other benefits, did not outweigh the harm caused by conflict with the Council's strategic approach to housing location, character and appearance impacts, and harm to neighbours' living conditions.

Framework references: 8

Plan policies cited: Policy SS1, Policy DM1, Policy SP17, Policy DM30, Policy D1, Policy CP1, Policy D2, Policy AT1, Policy AT2

Judgments cited: Bernard Wheatcroft Ltd v SSE [JPL, 1982, P37]

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.

Then the development plan position, the housing land supply as an Inspector last accepted it, and every appeal decided around the site with its letter.

Every English appeal since 2016, with the letter behind it wherever the Inspectorate published one. Searched by meaning as well as by words, with the key case law counted live across the letters.

Casework that chases the deadlines. Applications, appeals and conditions with their statutory dates.

The judgement stays yours. The tool gathers the material and dates it.