®Planning appeal decision
The Former Dragoon Public House, 40 Sandling Road, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 2RF
conversion of former public house into 1no. 2- bedroom flat and 3no. 1-bedroom flats including erection of first floor extension and changes to fenestration
- Authority
- Maidstone Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Change of use
- Inspector
- Davies G
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the change of use of the property from a public house is justified
- The effect of the proposal on the building as a non-designated heritage asset and its effect on the settings of the Grade II* listed Officers Quarters, and Grade II listed 63 to 89, 92, 94 and The Flower Pot Public House, Sandling Road and the embankment and railings opposite to them
What decided it
The appellant's failure to provide audited financial reports and marketing evidence required by Policy LPRINF2 to justify the loss of the public house, combined with the Council's ability to demonstrate adequate housing land supply, means the housing benefit cannot outweigh the development plan conflict.
The benefits of creating 4 residential flats were given only moderate weight and did not outweigh the conflict with Policies LPRCD1 and LPRINF2 regarding loss of a community facility without adequate evidence of non-viability.
Framework references: 209, 11
Plan policies cited: Policy LPRCD1, Policy LPRINF2, Policy LPRSP2, Policy LPRSP14(B), Policy LPRSP15, Policy LPRENV1
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.