Eden Top Sheppey Way, Bobbing, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME9 8QP

Planning appeal 3352254 at Eden Top Sheppey Way, Bobbing, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME9 8QP (Swale Borough Council) was allowed on 12 May 2025 by Inspector Lewis D, following a hearing. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The main issue is the effect of the proposal on (i) the character and appearance of the area, having regard to the location of the site within an Important Local Countryside Gap, and (ii) on the supply of gypsy and traveller sites in the area.

Removal of conditions 3 (occupancy restriction) and 4 (use of land) pursuant to application SW/09/0972 (allowed on appeal) for the material change of use of land to use as a residential caravan site for one gypsy family with two caravans (including one static), erection of amenity block and laying of hardstanding

Authority: Swale Borough Council
Appeal type: enforcement · Enforcement Notice
Procedure: Hearing
Development: caravan-gypsy · Change of use
Inspector: Lewis D
Postcode: ME9 8QP

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

The main issue is the effect of the proposal on (i) the character and appearance of the area, having regard to the location of the site within an Important Local Countryside Gap, and (ii) on the supply of gypsy and traveller sites in the area
The main issue is whether the development would be in an appropriate location, taking into account the effects of the caravan site on (i) the character and appearance of the surrounding area, (ii) the location of the site in an Important Local Countryside Gap (ILCG) and (iii) the integrity of the North Kent Marshes Special Protection Areas and Ramsar sites

What decided it

The severe and worsening shortfall of gypsy and traveller pitch provision in the Borough, combined with the absence of demonstrable harm to the Important Local Countryside Gap, heritage assets or (once SAMMS mitigation was secured) the North Kent Marshes SPA/Ramsar sites, was decisive in allowing both appeals.

Any adverse impacts of granting permission would not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits when assessed against the policies in the Framework taken as a whole

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies: Policy DM 10Policy ST 3Policy DM 25Policy DM 32Policy DM 28
National Planning Policy Framework: Paragraph 11

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.

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The decision letter

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The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025

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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.