Bridgewood Farm, Watery Lane, Westwell, Ashford, Kent, TN25 4JJ

Planning appeal 3331516 at Bridgewood Farm, Watery Lane, Westwell, Ashford, Kent, TN25 4JJ (Ashford Borough Council) was dismissed on 19 December 2023 by Inspector Murray D, following a hearing. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The accord with the development strategy on the location of development.

the change of use of the land for the stationing of 3 mobile homes for Gypsy / Traveller occupation. Occupation ancillary to the existing site permitted under application 12/00923/AS

Authority: Ashford Borough Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Hearing
Development: caravan-gypsy · Change of use
Inspector: Murray D
Postcode: TN25 4JJ

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

The accord with the development strategy on the location of development
The effect on the character and appearance of the area and the Kent Downs NL
The effect on the Stodmarsh Nature Conservation Habitat
The need and supply of gypsy/traveller sites and availability of alternative sites
The personal circumstances of the appellant and best interests of children

What decided it

The significant, permanent visual harm to the Kent Downs National Landscape combined with the unresolved risk to the Stodmarsh Nature Conservation Habitat outweighed the substantial unmet need for gypsy/traveller sites.

The substantial unmet need for gypsy/traveller pitches and lack of alternative sites did not outweigh the significant harm to the Kent Downs NL and the unresolved risk to the Stodmarsh habitat, so the conflict with the development plan was not outweighed.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies: Policy HOU16Policy ENV 3(b)Policy ENV3
National Planning Policy Framework: Paragraph 176
Judgments: Lisa Smith

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.

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The decision letter

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The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2023

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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.