85 Luton Road, Chatham, Kent, ME4 5AG

Planning appeal 3319228 at 85 Luton Road, Chatham, Kent, ME4 5AG (Medway Council) was dismissed on 2 November 2023 by Inspector Catcheside E, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the property provides an adequate standard of accommodation for existing and future occupiers, with particular regard to bedroom size and the quality of communal space.

the change of use from C4 (HMO) 6 persons in 6 units to sui-generis HMO 10 persons in 6 units

Authority: Medway Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Change of use
Inspector: Catcheside E
Postcode: ME4 5AG

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

whether the property provides an adequate standard of accommodation for existing and future occupiers, with particular regard to bedroom size and the quality of communal space

What decided it

The inadequate standard of accommodation, particularly the small size of bedrooms 2 and 4 combined with the poor quality of the basement common room, means the building cannot cater for the full range of domestic needs of ten residents and this harm significantly and demonstrably outweighs the limited housing benefits.

The limited housing benefit and flexibility for homeless couples were outweighed by the significant harm to living conditions for existing and future occupiers, with the adverse impact significantly and demonstrably outweighing the benefits when assessed against the Framework taken as a whole.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies: Policy BNE2 of the Medway Local Plan 2003
National Planning Policy Framework: Paragraph 11Paragraph 130

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 2023

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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.