®Planning appeal decision
Printstile Place Penshurst Road, Bidborough, TUNBRIDGE WELLS, TN3 0LW
demolition of outbuildings, erection of one new dwelling and garage, associated landscaping and hardstanding
- Authority
- Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Shearing C
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and any relevant development plan policies
- Effects on highway safety, with particular regard to the site access
- Effects on the character and appearance of the area including the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
- Whether the site is suitable for new residential development, having regard to the local plan policies and accessibility to services and facilities
- Whether any harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations, so as to amount to the very special circumstances required to justify the proposal
What decided it
The proposal's substantial impact on the spatial openness of the Green Belt, combined with harm to highway safety, could not be outweighed by the moderate benefits of a single dwelling contribution to housing supply and other considerations.
The substantial harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness and significant harm to highway safety were not outweighed by the moderate benefits of housing delivery on brownfield land, economic benefits, and landscape enhancements, so very special circumstances did not exist.
Framework references: 137, 149, 11
Plan policies cited: Core Policy 2, Policy MGB1, Core Policy 14, Policy LBD1, Policy EN25, Policy EN1, Policy TP4, Core Policy 3, Core Policy 4, Core Policy 6
Judgments cited: Turner v SSCLG & East Dorset Council [2016] EWCA Civ 466
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.