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Planning permission granted10 May 20243324922

Moorcroft Place, Mapleton Road, Westerham, TN16 1PS

Planning appeal 3324922 at Moorcroft Place, Mapleton Road, Westerham, TN16 1PS (Sevenoaks District Council) was allowed on 10 May 2024 by Inspector White P, following a hearing. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the development is inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the Framework and any relevant development plan policies.

demolition of three outbuildings and replacement with single storey raised platform treehouse (part retrospective)

Authority
Sevenoaks District Council
Appeal type
enforcement · Enforcement Notice
Procedure
Hearing
Development
residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector
White P
Postcode
TN16 1PS

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • whether the development is inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the Framework and any relevant development plan policies
  • if the development is inappropriate, the effect of the proposed development on the openness of the Green Belt
  • whether the development conserves and enhances the character of the Kent Downs National Landscape
  • if the development is inappropriate, whether the harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations, so as to amount to the very special circumstances required to justify the proposal

What decided it

The finding that the replacement structure fell within the Framework paragraph 154(d) exception (not materially larger than, and in the same use as, the buildings it replaced) meant it was not inappropriate development in the Green Belt.

As the development was found not to be inappropriate in the Green Belt and to conserve and enhance the National Landscape, no weighing of harm against very special circumstances was required, and the appeals were allowed in accordance with the development plan.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
CS Policy LO1ADMP Policy GB3ADMP Policy EN5
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 154Paragraph 57
Judgments
Gravesham BC v SSE & O’Brien [1982] 47 P&CR 142; [1983] JPL 307; Uttlesford DC v SSE & White [1992] JPL 171; Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, R (on the application of) v Epping Forest District Council & Anor (Rev 1) [2016] EWCA Civ 404

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 Sevenoaks

The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2024

  1. Allowed1 October 20266004899
    Lower Fawke Farm, Bitchet Green Road, Fawke Common, Underriver, TN15 0JX
  2. Planning permission granted28 September 20263378336
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  3. Allowed24 September 20266011192
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  4. Dismissed22 September 20266012481
    Well Hill Nursery, Fountain Farm, Firmingers Road, Orpington, BR6 7QH
  5. Allowed22 September 20266012162
    Oakwood House, School Lane, West Kingsdown, TN15 6AW

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.