Planning appeal decision
Land East Of Chirnside House , London Road, West Kingsdown, Kent, TN15 6EJ
Planning appeal 3351517 at Land East Of Chirnside House , London Road, West Kingsdown, Kent, TN15 6EJ (Sevenoaks District Council) was dismissed on 21 January 2025 by Inspector Hobbs J, following a hearing. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the Framework and any relevant development plan policies.
3 serviced plots for Self and Custom Housebuilding
- Authority
- Sevenoaks District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Hearing
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Hobbs J
- Postcode
- TN15 6EJ
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the Framework and any relevant development plan policies
- the effect of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt
- whether any harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations, so as to amount to the very special circumstances required to justify the proposal
- whether a mechanism to secure the provision of Self-Build and Custom Housebuilding plots is required and, if so, has an appropriate mechanism been provided
What decided it
The absence of a legally sound and effective planning obligation or condition to secure the delivery of the plots as genuine Self-Build and Custom Housebuilding plots.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy LO8Policy LO7Policy LO1
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 155Paragraph 143Paragraph 110Paragraph 57Paragraph 56
- Judgments
- Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, R (on the application of) v Epping Forest District Council & Anor (Rev 1) [2016] EWCA Civ 404
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
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More decisions in Sevenoaks
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025
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- Allowed24 September 20266011192Land Surrounding The Stables, Underriver House Road, Underriver, TN15 0SJ
- Dismissed22 September 20266012481Well Hill Nursery, Fountain Farm, Firmingers Road, Orpington, BR6 7QH
- Allowed22 September 20266012162Oakwood House, School Lane, West Kingsdown, TN15 6AW
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.
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