®Planning appeal decision
Land Known As The Island, Whitepost Lane, Culverstone, Gravesend, Kent, DA13 0RN
Planning appeal 3352050 at Land Known As The Island, Whitepost Lane, Culverstone, Gravesend, Kent, DA13 0RN (Gravesham Borough Council) was dismissed on 18 July 2025 by Inspector Harley S, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the proposal on the natural environment having particular regard to the location within the Meopham Downs Landscape Character and in a designated ancient woodland.
to establish the principle for a modest dwelling, with all matters being reserved
- Authority
- Gravesham Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Harley S
- Postcode
- DA13 0RN
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the proposal on the natural environment having particular regard to the location within the Meopham Downs Landscape Character and in a designated ancient woodland
- whether or not the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the Framework and development plan policies
- if the proposal is found to be inappropriate development, 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
What decided it
The proposal would cause substantial harm to a designated ancient woodland and would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt, and these harms are not clearly outweighed by other considerations, so very special circumstances do not exist.
The modest housing benefits and economic contributions of less than moderate weight do not clearly outweigh the substantial harm to the Green Belt and the harmful effects on the designated ancient woodland and Meopham Downs Landscape Character.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy CS02Policy CS12Policy CS19
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 153Paragraph 154Paragraph 155Paragraph 193
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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With an account
What an account adds to this decision
More decisions in Gravesham
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025
- Allowed26 October 20266014077282 Lower Higham Road, Gravesend, DA12 2NR
- Allowed15 October 20266007106Blackthorn Farm, Wrotham Road, Culverstone Green, Meopham, Gravesend, DA13 0QW
- Dismissed24 September 2026601162126 St Johns Road, Higham, Rochester, ME3 7BZ
- Dismissed1 September 202660056037 Hornfield Cottages, David Street, Meopham, Gravesend, DA13 0BU
- Allowed20 August 20263361359Parsonage Farm, The Street, Cobham, Kent, DA12 3DG
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.