Planning appeal decision
Oxney Isle Barn, Swan Street, Wittersham, Tenterden, TN30 7PL
Planning appeal 3326392 at Oxney Isle Barn, Swan Street, Wittersham, Tenterden, TN30 7PL (Ashford Borough Council) was dismissed on 2 May 2024 by Inspector Hobbs J, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area, including the HWNL.
Proposed new single dwelling and landscaping
- Authority
- Ashford Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Hobbs J
- Postcode
- TN30 7PL
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area, including the HWNL
- whether the proposal conforms with the spatial strategy having regard to local and national planning policy for the provision of housing
What decided it
The Framework's requirement to give great weight to conserving and enhancing landscape and scenic beauty in National Landscapes, combined with the proposal's failure to accord with the spatial strategy and the development plan, outweighed the benefits of addressing housing land supply shortfall and providing accessible accommodation.
The harm to the character and appearance of the National Landscape and non-conformity with the spatial strategy, to which substantial weight was ascribed, outweighed the considerable benefits of addressing housing land supply shortfall, providing accessible accommodation for people with mobility impairments, and including significant sustainability measures and biodiversity net gain.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy ENV3bPolicy HOU5
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 84
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


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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.
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