®Planning appeal decision
Rosewood Farm Scragged Oak Road, Detling, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 3HL
Planning appeal 3351226 at Rosewood Farm Scragged Oak Road, Detling, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 3HL (Maidstone Borough Council) was allowed on 28 April 2025 by Inspector Beeby C, following a hearing. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the site would be a suitable location for the proposal, having regard to its effect on the character and appearance of the area with particular regard to the effect on the Kent Downs National Landscape.
the change of use of land to a mixed use for agriculture (existing) and as a residential caravan site for two gypsy families with a total of 4 caravans including 2 static caravans/mobile homes. The stationing of one storage container, laying of hard standing and creation of new access. The erection of post and rail fencing
- Authority
- Maidstone Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Hearing
- Development
- caravan-gypsy · Change of use
- Inspector
- Beeby C
- Postcode
- ME14 3HL
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the site would be a suitable location for the proposal, having regard to its effect on the character and appearance of the area with particular regard to the effect on the Kent Downs National Landscape
- Whether there would be unacceptable effects on ancient woodland
What decided it
The appellant's personal circumstances, particularly the needs of a child with health conditions and the lack of a five-year supply of deliverable Traveller sites, justified granting a temporary, personal permission notwithstanding the harm to the AONB.
The significant harm to the landscape and rural character of the AONB outweighed the moderate weight of the other considerations in favour of a permanent grant, but personal circumstances and Article 8 considerations tipped the balance in favour of a four-year temporary and personal permission rather than dismissal.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- LPRSP9LPRHOU8LPRSS1LPRSP15LPRQD4LPRSP14A
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 135Paragraph 187Paragraph 189
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
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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.