®Planning appeal decision
Land off Foxborough Lane, Minster, CT12 4AH
an outline planning application for the demolition of no. 97 Tothill Street and erection of up to 115 residential dwellings (including affordable housing), introduction of structural planting and landscaping, public open space, sustainable urban drainage system and associated works (all matters reserved except for access)
- Authority
- Thanet District Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Inquiry
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Wallis D
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the development upon the character and appearance of the landscape
- the effect of the development upon the resource of best and most versatile agricultural land
- whether or not suitable and safe pedestrian access would be provided, to avoid residual highway effects
- the effects upon local social infrastructure
- whether or not an adverse effect on integrity would occur to the Thanet Coast and Sandwich Bay Special Protection Area and/or the Sandwich Bay and Hacklinge Marshes Site of Special Scientific Interest
What decided it
The unacceptable risk to pedestrian safety arising from unsafe crossing points and a narrow onward footway, combined with harm to landscape character and unjustified loss of best and most versatile agricultural land, was found to significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of the scheme.
The harms of the proposed development to landscape character, best and most versatile agricultural land, and pedestrian safety were found to significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of market and affordable housing delivery, economic benefits, and open space/BNG/drainage provision, such that the balance tipped against the proposal despite the tilted balance under paragraph 11(d) of the Framework.
Framework references: 11, 187, 115
Plan policies cited: Policy SP24, Policy SP26, Policy QD02, Policy E16, Policy SP43, Policy SP44, Policy TP02, Policy SP23, Policy SP41, Policy SP29
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.