Planning appeal decision
5 Senacre Lane, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 8HB
Planning appeal 3325792 at 5 Senacre Lane, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 8HB (Maidstone Borough Council) was dismissed on 26 January 2024 by Inspector Naylor R, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the surrounding area.
demolition of existing garage, construction of new three- bedroom dwelling
- Authority
- Maidstone Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Naylor R
- Postcode
- ME15 8HB
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- The effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the surrounding area
What decided it
The proposal's incongruous roof form and design, which would be discordant with and fail to respond positively to the distinctive character and proportions of the existing dwellings in Sutton Heights, constituted substantial harm that outweighed the modest benefits of the development.
The substantial harm to character and appearance significantly and demonstrably outweighed the modest social and economic benefits of the proposed development
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy DM1Policy DM9Policy DM11
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11
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.
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