Planning appeal decision
Cherry Gardens, Collier Street, Tonbridge, TN12 9RJ
Planning appeal 3359851 at Cherry Gardens, Collier Street, Tonbridge, TN12 9RJ (Maidstone Borough Council) was dismissed on 23 July 2025 by Inspector Sylvester G, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the proposed development is proportionate to and necessary for the purposes of agriculture on land in use for an agricultural trade or business.
the erection of an agricultural storage barn, installation of solar roof panels and improvements to existing driveway
- Authority
- Maidstone Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- agricultural · Minor general industry/storage/warehousing
- Inspector
- Sylvester G
- Postcode
- TN12 9RJ
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the proposed development is proportionate to and necessary for the purposes of agriculture on land in use for an agricultural trade or business
- The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area, with particular regard to its location in the countryside
- Whether the proposed development would be at an unacceptable risk of flooding or would unacceptably increase flood risk elsewhere
What decided it
The proposed development failed to satisfy the requirement under Policy LPRCD5 that agricultural buildings be proportionate and necessary for purposes of agriculture on land in use for an agricultural trade or business, and would cause significant harm to character and appearance and unacceptable flood risk.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- LPRCD5LPRSP9LPRSP15LPRQD4LPRSP14(C)
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 88Paragraph 89Paragraph 135Paragraph 170Paragraph 181Paragraph 187
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


More decisions in Maidstone Borough Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025
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- Allowed27 October 20266011721Loxley House, Gravelly Bottom Road, Kingswood, Maidstone, ME17 3NT
- Allowed27 October 20266011076Little Southernden, Southernden Road, Headcorn, TN27 9LL
- Allowed26 October 20266010539Land Rear Of 58 Church Street, Boughton Monchelsea, Maidstone, ME17 4HN
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.
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