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

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

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.

Framework references: 155, 182, 143, 11

Plan policies cited: SP1, LO8, EN1, EN5, EN4, SP11, SP3

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.

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