Pear Tree House, Otterham Quay Lane, Upchurch, Kent, ME8 8QW

Planning appeal 3337194 at Pear Tree House, Otterham Quay Lane, Upchurch, Kent, ME8 8QW (Swale Borough Council) was dismissed on 6 January 2025 by Inspector Gee R, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the site is a suitable location for the proposed development having regard to the Council's development strategy and national policy.

demolition of 4.no former agricultural buildings, and the erection of 2no. dwellings with other associated works on land

Authority: Swale Borough Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector: Gee R
Postcode: ME8 8QW

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether the site is a suitable location for the proposed development having regard to the Council's development strategy and national policy
The effect on the character and appearance of the area, with particular regard to the Important Local Countryside Gap (ILCG) designation
The effects on the integrity of Habitats sites
If there is any harm, whether this is outweighed by other considerations, particularly whether there is a fallback position for an alternative proposed development

What decided it

The adverse effect on character and appearance of the area, particularly within the Important Local Countryside Gap designation, was not outweighed by the fallback position or other material considerations.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies: ST1ST3CP3CP4DM14DM25
National Planning Policy Framework: Paragraph 11

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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More decisions in Swale

The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025

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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.