®Planning appeal decision
Land at The Meadows, Lenham Road, Headcorn, TN27 9LG
without planning permission, the material change of use of the Land for a residential use including the stationing of caravans and associated paraphernalia and operational works including the laying of hard standing, plainings/shingle and subterranean features
- Authority
- Maidstone Borough Council
- Appeal type
- enforcement · Enforcement Notice
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- caravan-gypsy · Change of use
- Inspector
- Steen A
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- The effect of the residential use including the stationing of caravans and associated paraphernalia and operational works including the laying of hard standing, plainings/shingle and subterranean features on the intrinsic character and beauty of the landscape
- If there were any conflict with the development plan, whether material considerations such as the need for Gypsy and Traveller accommodation and/or the personal circumstances of the occupiers would indicate a decision other than in accordance with the development plan
What decided it
The identified need for Gypsy and Traveller accommodation, combined with the Council's inability to demonstrate a 5-year supply and the non-significant nature of the landscape harm, outweighed the conflict with landscape character policies.
The non-significant harm to the intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside was outweighed by compliance with Policy LPRHOU8 and the need for Gypsy and Traveller accommodation in the context of a shortfall in the 5-year supply.
Framework references: 11
Plan policies cited: Policy LPRSS1, Policy LPRSP9, Policy LPRSP14, Policy LPRSP14(A), Policy LPRSP15, Policy LPRHOU8, Policy LPRQD4, Policy HNP1, Policy HNP2, Policy HNP5
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.