®Planning appeal decision
Newington Farm, Arnolds Lane, Sutton At Hone, Dartford, Kent, DA4 9HE
Planning appeal 3354290 at Newington Farm, Arnolds Lane, Sutton At Hone, Dartford, Kent, DA4 9HE (Dartford Borough Council) was dismissed on 26 February 2025 by Inspector Hall C, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and any relevant development plan policies, and any resultant effects on openness.
for part demolition and part conversion of existing agricultural buildings to form 4 residential dwellings consisting of 2 x 2 bed, 1 x three bed and 1 x four bed units, together with associated car parking, cycle storage, bin storage facilities and landscaping/ecological enhancements
- Authority
- Dartford Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Hall C
- Postcode
- DA4 9HE
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and any relevant development plan policies, and any resultant effects on openness
- the impact on the living conditions for future occupiers with regard to light, outlook and external amenity space
- the impact on the character and appearance of the area
- whether any harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm is clearly outweighed by other considerations, so as to amount to the very special circumstances required to justify the development
What decided it
The proposal constitutes inappropriate development in the Green Belt with substantial harm to openness and fails to satisfy the sustainability and unmet need tests in Framework paragraph 155, and this harm is not clearly outweighed by other considerations to establish very special circumstances.
The substantial weight given to harm to the Green Belt by virtue of inappropriateness and loss of openness, together with harm to living conditions and character and appearance, was not clearly outweighed by the benefits of four additional housing units and ecological enhancements.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy M12Policy M1Policy M9Policy M10
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 83Paragraph 110Paragraph 115Paragraph 142Paragraph 143Paragraph 153Paragraph 154Paragraph 155Paragraph 156Paragraph 157
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
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The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025
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- Dismissed8 June 20266006013Mill House, Station Road, Southfleet, DA13 9PA
- Dismissed22 May 20266003840St Fiacre Green Street Green Road, Darenth, DA2 7HT
- Allowed30 March 20266003060The Paddock, Nurstead Avenue, Longfield, Kent, DA3 7LA
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.