Planning appeal decision
Land to the West of Forge Hill, Bethersden, TN26 3AF
Planning appeal 3324812 at Land to the West of Forge Hill, Bethersden, TN26 3AF (Ashford Borough Council) was dismissed on 20 May 2024 by Inspector Jolly J, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposal would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Bethersden Conservation Area.
for the erection of 4 No residential homes and 2 No bungalows, associated access, parking and landscaping
- Authority
- Ashford Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Jolly J
- Postcode
- TN26 3AF
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposal would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Bethersden Conservation Area
- the setting of the surrounding listed buildings
What decided it
The less than substantial harm to the Conservation Area and the setting of listed buildings could not be outweighed by the public benefits of the proposal, including the new public footway and biodiversity enhancements.
the less than substantial harm to the Conservation Area and the setting of listed buildings outweighed the public benefits of the proposal, including local employment, housing delivery, biodiversity enhancements, and a new public footway
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy HOU3aPolicy ENV13Policy ENV14
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 205Paragraph 208Paragraph 209
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
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With an account
What an account adds to this decision


More decisions in Ashford Borough Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2024
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- Dismissed8 October 20266012673Land 150metres East by Southeast of Barkleys Farm, Burnthouse Lane, Smarden, TN27 8QQ
- Dismissed30 September 202660117174-6 Ashford Road, Tenterden, TN30 6QU
- Dismissed30 September 202660117144-6 Ashford Road, Tenterden, TN30 6QU
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.
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