®Planning appeal decision
Gatehouse Nursery, Coldharbour Lane, Hildenborough, Kent, TN11 9LE
Planning appeal 3330990 at Gatehouse Nursery, Coldharbour Lane, Hildenborough, Kent, TN11 9LE (Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council) was dismissed on 13 May 2024 by Inspector Grierson E, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the revised National Planning Policy Framework and relevant development plan policies.
the clearance of existing nursery buildings and polytunnels and erection of four detached dwellings (phased for self-build delivery)
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Grierson E
- Postcode
- TN11 9LE
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the revised National Planning Policy Framework and relevant development plan policies
- would the harm by reason of inappropriateness and any other harm, be clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to amount to the very special circumstances required to justify the proposal
- the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the surrounding area (appeal A only)
- the effect of the proposed development on biodiversity (appeal A only)
What decided it
The harm to the Green Belt through loss of visual openness and inappropriateness of the development is not clearly outweighed by other considerations, and very special circumstances do not exist to justify the development.
The modest benefits of housing delivery, self-build provision, and economic benefits do not clearly outweigh the substantial harm to the Green Belt identified through loss of visual openness and inappropriateness of development.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy CP3Policy CP24Policy SQ1Policy NE3
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 70Paragraph 152Paragraph 153Paragraph 154
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
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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.