Benenden Telephone Exchange, New Pond Road, Benenden, Kent, TN17 4EJ

the installation of a 20m Monopole mast accommodating 6 no. antenna, ancillary radio equipment, 2 no 300mm dishes, and 2 no. equipment cabinets and 1 no GPS Module in fenced compound along with ancillary development thereto

Authority: Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: telecoms · Other minor developments
Inspector: Knight A

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

The effect of the siting and appearance of the proposed installation on the character and appearance of the area, including the High Weald National Landscape, and the setting of the Benenden Conservation Area and nearby listed buildings
If any harm would occur, whether this is outweighed by the need for the installation to be sited as proposed taking into account any suitable alternatives

What decided it

The public benefits of improved mobile coverage were outweighed by the substantial harm to the character and appearance of the High Weald National Landscape and the setting of designated heritage assets, combined with insufficient evidence that realistic alternative sites had been properly explored.

Plan policies cited: Policy EN1, Policy EN5, Policy EN20, Core Policy 4, Core Policy 14

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

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.

What an account adds

Draw a red line around your site and the appraisal follows.

Heritage. Listed buildings by grade and distance, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, heritage at risk.
Landscape and environment. Green belt, national parks and national landscapes, SSSIs, ancient woodland, SPA, SAC and Ramsar sites, nutrient catchments.
Flooding. Flood zones 2 and 3, surface water, and both again with climate change.
Transport. The 800 metre station catchment and service frequency, bus stops with their weekday frequency, the cycle network, and the Framework’s transport tests measured for the site.

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