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Dismissed31 January 20243318975

Maplescombe Farm, Maplescombe Lane, Farningham Lane, Kent, DA4 0JY

Planning appeal 3318975 at Maplescombe Farm, Maplescombe Lane, Farningham Lane, Kent, DA4 0JY (Sevenoaks District Council) was dismissed on 31 January 2024 by Inspector Harbottle M, following a hearing. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the proposed conversion constitutes inappropriate development in the Green Belt, having regard to its effect on the openness and purposes of including land in the GB.

conversion of 6 agricultural buildings into 10 dwellings and the demolition of 3 additional agricultural buildings, in conjunction with associated parking, amenity area and landscaping

Authority
Sevenoaks District Council
Appeal type
minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure
Hearing
Development
residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector
Harbottle M
Postcode
DA4 0JY

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • Whether the proposed conversion constitutes inappropriate development in the Green Belt, having regard to its effect on the openness and purposes of including land in the GB
  • Its effect on the character and appearance of the area, including the landscape and scenic beauty of the Eynsford and Horton Kirby Downs Landscape within the Kent Downs National Landscape
  • Its effect on the significance of Maplescombe Farm House, a designated heritage asset
  • Its effects on ecology and biodiversity
  • The provision of affordable housing

What decided it

The harm to the distinctive character and dark-skies tranquillity of the Kent Downs National Landscape provided a clear reason for refusal that outweighed the benefits of housing delivery.

The adverse impacts of granting planning permission on the character of the National Landscape would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of the 10 additional dwellings, even with significant weight afforded to housing delivery, when assessed against the development plan and the Framework as a whole.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
SP1LO8EN1EN5EN4SP11SP3
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 155Paragraph 182Paragraph 143Paragraph 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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The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2024

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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.

In the app this decision sits on the map beside every appeal around it, with its letter to read and the main issues, policies and judgments cited picked out.