Planning appeal decision
132 Sandling Lane, Penenden Heath, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 2EG
Planning appeal 3344507 at 132 Sandling Lane, Penenden Heath, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 2EG (Maidstone Borough Council) was dismissed on 10 December 2024 by Inspector Walker R, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The effects of the development on the irreplaceable habitat within the Sandling Wood Ancient Woodland.
the change of use of land to residential garden and extension of existing drive (retrospective)
- Authority
- Maidstone Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Change of use
- Inspector
- Walker R
- Postcode
- ME14 2EG
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- The effects of the development on the irreplaceable habitat within the Sandling Wood Ancient Woodland
- The character and appearance of the area with particular reference to the Sandling Wood Ancient Woodland
What decided it
The absence of substantive technical evidence demonstrating that the development would not harm the irreplaceable habitat of the Ancient Woodland, combined with the failure to demonstrate wholly exceptional reasons for such loss as required by NPPF paragraph 186.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- LPRSP14(A)LPRSP15LPRQD4LPRSP9
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 186
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 appliedThe decision letter
Town Planner Pro holds this letter. The Appeals plan opens it and every other letter we hold, all of them searchable, with the main issues and what decided each case picked out. We do not show letters on the free site because they carry people’s names and addresses.
With an account
What an account adds to this decision


More decisions in Maidstone Borough Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2024
- Dismissed29 October 2026601053621 Tasker Close, Bearsted, Maidstone, ME15 8NZ
- Allowed27 October 20266015190Little Southernden, Southernden Road, Headcorn, TN27 9LL
- Allowed27 October 20266011721Loxley House, Gravelly Bottom Road, Kingswood, Maidstone, ME17 3NT
- Allowed27 October 20266011076Little Southernden, Southernden Road, Headcorn, TN27 9LL
- Allowed26 October 20266010539Land Rear Of 58 Church Street, Boughton Monchelsea, Maidstone, ME17 4HN
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.
®