®Planning appeal decision
Chegworth Mill Farm, Chegworth Road, Harrietsham, Kent, ME17 1DD
Planning appeal 3354805 at Chegworth Mill Farm, Chegworth Road, Harrietsham, Kent, ME17 1DD (Maidstone Borough Council) was dismissed on 24 June 2025 by Inspector Pattison B, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area including with regard to the Kent Downs National Landscape (KDNL) and the Len Valley Local Landscape of Value (LVLLV).
Planning Application for the use of existing arable field to the southwest of Chegworth Mill Farm to be used as a ‘Glamping Site’, comprising 8no. seasonal glamping units, alongside the erection of a Farm Shop with associated storage, and staff welfare facilities and provision of WC/shower facilities for glamping tourists and provision of facilities, with associated parking, access and infrastructure
- Authority
- Maidstone Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- leisure-sport · Minor retail and services
- Inspector
- Pattison B
- Postcode
- ME17 1DD
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- The effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area including with regard to the Kent Downs National Landscape (KDNL) and the Len Valley Local Landscape of Value (LVLLV)
- Whether the proposed glamping accommodation would be in a suitable location, having regard to access to services and facilities
- Whether the proposed retail use is suitable having regard to the development plan policies
What decided it
The large expanse of car parking spreading across a significant portion of the appeal site close to Chegworth Road would be a dominant, urbanising and significantly harmful feature at odds with the rural character of the area and the Len Valley Local Landscape of Value, which could not be outweighed by the economic and tourism benefits of the scheme.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- LPRSS1LPRSP9LPRSP15LPRQD4LPRTLR2LPRCD6LPRSP14(C)LPRCD1
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 189Paragraph 110Paragraph 88
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
Town Planner Pro holds this letter. The Appeals plan opens it and every other letter we hold, all of them searchable, with the main issues and what decided each case picked out. We do not show letters on the free site because they carry people’s names and addresses.
With an account
What an account adds to this decision
More decisions in Maidstone Borough Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025
- Dismissed29 October 20253368299Waterman Quarter Cottage, Waterman Quarters, Headcorn, Kent, TN27 9JJ
- Dismissed22 August 20253361447Land At Riverdale, St Helens Lane, West Farleigh, Kent, ME15 0LB
- Dismissed3 June 20253259300Monk Lakes, Staplehurst Road, Maidstone, Kent, TN12 9BS
- Allowed25 April 20253350797Neverend Farm, Pye Corner, Ulcombe, Maidstone, Kent, ME17 1EF
- Dismissed6 January 20253343884Reeds Wood, Cox Street, Detling, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 3HL
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.