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Dismissed13 March 20243323460

Matfield House The Green, Matfield, Tonbridge, TN12 7JT

Planning appeal 3323460 at Matfield House The Green, Matfield, Tonbridge, TN12 7JT (Tunbridge Wells Borough Council) was dismissed on 13 March 2024 by Inspector Thompson P, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposal makes suitable provision for safe and suitable pedestrian access.

erection of 22 dwellings, access, and landscaping

Authority
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
Appeal type
major · Planning Appeal
Procedure
Written Representations
Development
residential · Major dwellings
Inspector
Thompson P
Postcode
TN12 7JT

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • whether the proposal makes suitable provision for safe and suitable pedestrian access
  • whether the proposal would conserve and enhance the landscape, scenic and natural beauty of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and National Landscape
  • whether the proposal makes suitable provision for affordable housing and towards infrastructure and service provision
  • whether the proposal would preserve the setting of two Grade I listed buildings, known as 'Matfield House' and 'Stable Block Immediately North East Of Matfield House', the Grade II* listed building known as 'Coach House About 40 Metres North East Of Matfield House', and the Grade II listed building known as 'Oasthouse About 100 Metres North Of Matfield House'; the extent to which it would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Matfield Conservation Area

What decided it

The harm to the settings of the Grade I and Grade II* listed buildings and the Grade II Oasthouse, to which great weight must be given under Framework paragraphs 205 and 206, was not outweighed by the public benefits of housing delivery and affordable housing provision.

The significant public benefits of housing delivery (including 40% affordable housing exceeding policy), economic benefits, and moderate environmental benefits from biodiversity net gain were outweighed by the great weight to be afforded to the conservation of the settings of Grade I listed buildings (Matfield House and Stable Block), the Grade II* Coach House, and the Grade II Oasthouse, and the significant harm to the High Weald AONB/National Landscape.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
BMNDP Policy AM1BMNDP Policy AM2BMNDP Policy LE1BMNDP Policy LE3BMNDP Policy H6BMNDP Policy CLR1LP Policy EN1LP Policy TP4LP Policy EN25LP Policy CS4LP Policy R2CS Core Policy 1CS Core Policy 4CS Core Policy 6CS Core Policy 14
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 11Paragraph 114Paragraph 116Paragraph 180Paragraph 183Paragraph 203Paragraph 205Paragraph 206Paragraph 208

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 applied

The decision letter

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More decisions in Tunbridge Wells

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.