®Planning appeal decision
Land Adjoining the South Side of 129 - 131 Butchers Lane , Mereworth Kent, ME18 5QD
Planning appeal 3334210 at Land Adjoining the South Side of 129 - 131 Butchers Lane , Mereworth Kent, ME18 5QD (Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council) was dismissed on 6 December 2024 by Inspector Cryan M, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the proposal would be inappropriate development within the Green Belt having regard to the Framework and any relevant development plan policies, and its effects on the openness of the Green Belt.
the erection of a one and a half storey detached dwelling with link attached garage, new vehicular access and associated works
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Cryan M
- Postcode
- ME18 5QD
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the proposal would be inappropriate development within the Green Belt having regard to the Framework and any relevant development plan policies, and its effects on the openness of the Green Belt
- The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the Butchers Lane Mereworth Conservation Area
- If the proposal would be inappropriate development, whether or not the harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to amount to the very special circumstances necessary to justify the proposal
What decided it
The proposal is inappropriate development in the Green Belt that would harm openness and the character of a conservation area, and these harms are not clearly outweighed by other considerations, particularly as the tilted balance is not engaged due to the clear reasons for refusal provided by Green Belt and heritage protections.
The substantial weight given to Green Belt harm and great weight given to conservation area harm were not outweighed by the modest economic and social benefits of providing an additional dwelling and construction employment, and the limited contribution to housing supply shortfall.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy CP3Policy CP24Policy SQ1
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 152Paragraph 153Paragraph 154Paragraph 195Paragraph 206Paragraph 208
- Judgments
- Wood v SSCLG and Gravesham BC [2015] EWCA Civ 195
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.