Former M2 Commuter Car Park, Maidstone Road, Rainham, Gillingham, Kent, ME8 0LU

Planning appeal 3358815 at Former M2 Commuter Car Park, Maidstone Road, Rainham, Gillingham, Kent, ME8 0LU (Medway Council) was allowed on 12 June 2025 by Inspector Griffiths P, following a hearing. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The effect of the change of use on the character and appearance of the area.

the material change of use for Gypsy/Traveller site - retrospective

Authority: Medway Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Hearing
Development: caravan-gypsy · Minor traveller and caravan pitches
Inspector: Griffiths P
Postcode: ME8 0LU

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

The effect of the change of use on the character and appearance of the area
Whether the site provides reasonable living conditions for the occupiers in terms of the noise environment

What decided it

The Inspector's finding that the proposal complied with the relevant development plan policies (character/appearance and living conditions secured by condition), reinforced by the Council's inability to demonstrate a five-year supply of Gypsy/Traveller sites and the best interests of the children on site.

the proposal accords with the development plan and no material considerations justified a contrary decision; even had harm to character and appearance arisen, the best interests of the children, the PSED and Article 8 rights would have provided sufficiently weighty material considerations to justify granting permission without recourse to the tilted balance

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies: Policy H13Policy BNE1Policy BNE2Policy BNE25Policy BNE35
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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More decisions in Medway

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.