Planning appeal decision
Land North of Timbers, Boarley Lane, Sandling, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 3DE
Planning appeal 3322359 at Land North of Timbers, Boarley Lane, Sandling, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 3DE (Maidstone Borough Council) was dismissed on 26 February 2024 by Inspector Carpenter C, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the surrounding countryside, including the setting of the Kent Downs AONB.
part change of use; conversion and extension to existing barn to create new residential dwelling
- Authority
- Maidstone Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Change of use
- Inspector
- Carpenter C
- Postcode
- ME14 3DE
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the surrounding countryside, including the setting of the Kent Downs AONB
- trees and biodiversity, including the measures necessary to avoid, mitigate or compensate for any negative effects
What decided it
The proposal would cause significant adverse impact on the setting of the Kent Downs AONB and harmful effect on landscape character, and failed to adequately demonstrate the effect on trees and biodiversity through appropriate surveys before permission was granted.
The economic benefits of construction, housing supply and the appellant's personal circumstances did not outweigh the permanent harm to landscape character and the setting of the AONB, and the failure to adequately assess effects on trees and biodiversity.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy SS1Policy SP17Policy DM1Policy DM3Policy DM5Policy DM30Policy DM31
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 83Paragraph 84Paragraph 182Paragraph 186
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.
See how each was appliedThe decision letter
Town Planner Pro holds this letter. The Appeals plan opens it and every other letter we hold, all of them searchable, with the main issues and what decided each case picked out. We do not show letters on the free site because they carry people’s names and addresses.
With an account
What an account adds to this decision


More decisions in Maidstone Borough Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2024
- Dismissed29 October 2026601053621 Tasker Close, Bearsted, Maidstone, ME15 8NZ
- Allowed27 October 20266015190Little Southernden, Southernden Road, Headcorn, TN27 9LL
- Allowed27 October 20266011721Loxley House, Gravelly Bottom Road, Kingswood, Maidstone, ME17 3NT
- Allowed27 October 20266011076Little Southernden, Southernden Road, Headcorn, TN27 9LL
- Allowed26 October 20266010539Land Rear Of 58 Church Street, Boughton Monchelsea, Maidstone, ME17 4HN
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.
®