353, 353A, 355 & 355A Willington Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 8HL

Planning appeal 3317788 at 353, 353A, 355 & 355A Willington Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 8HL (Maidstone Borough Council) was dismissed on 29 August 2023 by Inspector Wyborn D, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area.

the extension of existing building comprising 4 no flats to create 6no flats and 1no houses

Authority: Maidstone Borough Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector: Wyborn D
Postcode: ME15 8HL

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

The effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area

What decided it

The erosion of spaces around the existing building would produce an unduly cramped development that would harmfully detract from the positive qualities of the area's character and appearance, and this harm would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the limited housing and economic benefits.

The limited benefits of housing supply, economic activity and improved accommodation were outweighed by the moderate to significant harm to character and appearance and conflict with development plan policies, such that the adverse impacts would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits when assessed against the Framework as a whole.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies: Policy DM1Policy DM9
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.

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The decision letter

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More decisions in Maidstone Borough Council

The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2023

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Allowed2 March 20263375644
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Allowed23 February 20263367417
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Allowed23 February 20263367413
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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.