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Allowed5 July 20243336250

Land off Heron Hill Lane, Meopham, Gravesend, Kent, DA13 0DT

Planning appeal 3336250 at Land off Heron Hill Lane, Meopham, Gravesend, Kent, DA13 0DT (Gravesham Borough Council) was allowed on 5 July 2024 by Inspector Pannell G, following a hearing. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the openness and purposes of the Green Belt.

Material change of use of land to Gypsy Traveller site with 3 pitches each with space for stationing of a static caravan, utility block with associated hard standing for parking, with shared septic tank and space for associated storage of touring caravans (part retrospective)

Authority
Gravesham Borough Council
Appeal type
minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure
Hearing
Development
caravan-gypsy · Change of use
Inspector
Pannell G
Postcode
DA13 0DT

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • the openness and purposes of the Green Belt
  • the character and appearance of the area
  • whether 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 it

What decided it

The combined weight of the unmet need for Gypsy and Traveller pitches, the appellant family's personal circumstances and human rights, and the best interests of the children clearly outweighed the substantial Green Belt harm, establishing very special circumstances.

the accommodation needs, personal circumstances and best interests of the children collectively outweighed the substantial weight attached to Green Belt harm and the modest weight against intentional unauthorised development, amounting to very special circumstances justifying the inappropriate development

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy CS02Policy CS12Policy CS19Policy CS17
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 143Paragraph 152Paragraph 153Paragraph 155

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 applied

The decision letter

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More decisions in Gravesham

The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2024

  1. Allowed15 October 20266007106
    Blackthorn Farm, Wrotham Road, Culverstone Green, Meopham, Gravesend, DA13 0QW
  2. Dismissed1 September 20266005603
    7 Hornfield Cottages, David Street, Meopham, Gravesend, DA13 0BU
  3. Dismissed8 July 20266005243
    9 Spring Grove, Gravesend, DA12 1LL
  4. Dismissed10 June 20266003544
    Land South of White Post Lane, Cobham, Gravesend, DA13 9AX
  5. Planning permission granted19 March 20263349903
    Land North of Brecon Heron Hill Lane, Culverstone, Meopham, DA13 0DT

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.

In the app this decision sits on the map beside every appeal around it, with its letter to read and the main issues, policies and judgments cited picked out.