Plot 9-11 Land off Redwings Lane, Pembury, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 4AD

change of use of land for private equestrian activities and siting of a lodge for office and site management activities

Authority: Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: leisure-sport · Change of use
Inspector: Francis L

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt, including any effect on openness having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and any relevant development plan policies
the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area, with particular regard to whether the proposal would conserve and enhance the landscape, scenic and natural beauty of the High Weald National Landscape
the effect of the proposal on ground water, surface water and drainage
whether any 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' required to justify the proposal

What decided it

The proposal constitutes inappropriate development in the Green Belt with substantial harm to the character and appearance of the High Weald National Landscape and unresolved concerns about groundwater contamination, and these harms are not clearly outweighed by other considerations to establish very special circumstances.

Framework references: 11, 88, 143, 154, 182

Plan policies cited: Policy MGB1, Core Policy 2, Policy LBD1, Core Policy 4, Core Policy 14, Policy EN1, Policy EN25, Policy EN16, Core Policy 5, Core Policy 6, Policy P11, Policy P5

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.

What an account adds

Draw a red line around your site and the appraisal follows.

Heritage. Listed buildings by grade and distance, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, heritage at risk.
Landscape and environment. Green belt, national parks and national landscapes, SSSIs, ancient woodland, SPA, SAC and Ramsar sites, nutrient catchments.
Flooding. Flood zones 2 and 3, surface water, and both again with climate change.
Transport. The 800 metre station catchment and service frequency, bus stops with their weekday frequency, the cycle network, and the Framework’s transport tests measured for the site.

Then the development plan position, the housing land supply as an Inspector last accepted it, and every appeal decided around the site with its letter.

Every English appeal since 2016, with the letter behind it wherever the Inspectorate published one. Searched by meaning as well as by words, with the key case law counted live across the letters.

Casework that chases the deadlines. Applications, appeals and conditions with their statutory dates.

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