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Dismissed4 February 20253341849

Hillrise Hayesden Lane, Tonbridge, TN11 8AB

Planning appeal 3341849 at Hillrise Hayesden Lane, Tonbridge, TN11 8AB (Tunbridge Wells Borough Council) was dismissed on 4 February 2025 by Inspector Knight A, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the site is suitable for residential development, having regard to its location, the proposed land use, and the amount of development.

demolition of existing stable and erection of a replacement dwelling - like for like in terms of size

Authority
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
Appeal type
minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure
Written Representations
Development
residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector
Knight A
Postcode
TN11 8AB

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • Whether the site is suitable for residential development, having regard to its location, the proposed land use, and the amount of development

What decided it

The failure of the proposal to conserve and enhance the High Weald National Landscape, combined with the unsustainable location requiring heavy reliance on motor car use, provided a strong reason for refusal that outweighed the modest housing delivery benefits.

The significant weight given to housing delivery benefits was greatly outweighed by the harm caused by the unsuitable location having regard to the proposed land use and the failure to conserve and enhance the National Landscape.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy LBD1Policy EN1Policy EN25Policy MGB1Policy T3Core Policy 2Core Policy 4Core Policy 5Core Policy 6Core Policy 14
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 11Paragraph 154Paragraph 155Paragraph 164Paragraph 189Paragraph 232
Judgments
East Hertfordshire DC v SSCLG [2017] EWHC 465 (Admin)

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 Tunbridge Wells

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

  1. Dismissed10 July 20266007577
    The Mill House, Powder Mill Lane, Tunbridge Wells, TN4 9EG
  2. Dismissed30 July 20253363702
    6 Woodside Close, Pembury, Tunbridge Wells, TN2 4BQ
  3. Dismissed15 July 20253352738
    Beacon Hotel, Tea Garden Lane, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN3 9JH
  4. Dismissed2 July 20253361716
    The Meadows, Pastheap Farm Hastings Road, Pembury, Tunbridge Wells, TN2 4BL
  5. Dismissed2 June 20253347954
    Milford House Penshurst Road, Speldhurst, Tunbridge Wells, TN3 0PH

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.