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Split Decision13 May 20253359258

8 Northview Cottages, Clement Street, Swanley, Kent, BR8 7PH

Planning appeal 3359258 at 8 Northview Cottages, Clement Street, Swanley, Kent, BR8 7PH (Dartford Borough Council) was allowed in part (a split decision) on 13 May 2025 by Inspector Hall C, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposal constitutes inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework 2024 and any relevant development plan policies.

for the erection of a replacement outhouse, gazebo and black metal boundary fence and gates

Authority
Dartford Borough Council
Appeal type
householder · Householder (HAS)
Procedure
Written Representations
Development
other · Householder developments
Inspector
Hall C
Postcode
BR8 7PH

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • whether the proposal constitutes inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework 2024 and any relevant development plan policies
  • the effect of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt
  • the effect on the character and appearance of the surrounding area
  • highway safety
  • whether any harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations, so as to amount to the very special circumstances required to justify the proposal

What decided it

The replacement outhouse's 66.5% increase in floor area made it materially larger than the building it replaces, constituting inappropriate Green Belt development that could not be justified by very special circumstances, whereas the gates and fencing caused only minimal harm to openness and could be adequately mitigated by landscaping.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy M12Policy M1Policy M10Policy M15Policy M16
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 154Paragraph 153

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 applied

The decision letter

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More decisions in Dartford Borough Council

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

  1. Dismissed4 September 20266008745
    Old Bean Cottage Shellbank Lane Bean, Kent, DA2 8AX
  2. Allowed9 July 20266005996
    Southfort Stables, Clement Street, Swanley, BR8 7PQ
  3. Dismissed8 June 20266006013
    Mill House, Station Road, Southfleet, DA13 9PA
  4. Dismissed22 May 20266003840
    St Fiacre Green Street Green Road, Darenth, DA2 7HT
  5. Allowed30 March 20266003060
    The 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.

In the app this decision sits on the map beside every appeal around it, with its letter to read and the main issues, policies and judgments cited picked out.