Planning appeal decision
Oakleigh Thorn Road, Marden, Tonbridge, TN12 9EJ
Planning appeal 3331689 at Oakleigh Thorn Road, Marden, Tonbridge, TN12 9EJ (Maidstone Borough Council) was dismissed on 11 July 2024 by Inspector Smith J, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposed development would be a suitable location for housing, having regard to the Council's spatial strategy and accessibility to services and facilities.
erection of 2 No. detached dwellings with 4 bedrooms
- Authority
- Maidstone Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Smith J
- Postcode
- TN12 9EJ
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposed development would be a suitable location for housing, having regard to the Council's spatial strategy and accessibility to services and facilities
- the effect on the character and appearance of the area
What decided it
The site fails to satisfy the criteria in Policy LPRHOU1 for residential redevelopment of previously developed land in the countryside, and the proposal would cause significant harm to the character and appearance of the rural area.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy LPRSP9Policy LPRHOU1Policy LPRSS1Policy LPRSP15Policy LPRQD4Policy LPRSA29
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 135
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


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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