Planning appeal decision
Swattenden Barn Stables, Swattenden Lane, Cranbrook, Kent, TN17 3PR
Planning appeal 3360471 at Swattenden Barn Stables, Swattenden Lane, Cranbrook, Kent, TN17 3PR (Tunbridge Wells Borough Council) was dismissed on 24 July 2025 by Inspector Courtney T, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area, having particular regard to its location within the High Weald National Landscape.
the replacement of existing home & 5no. containers with new dwelling & associated landscaping
- Authority
- Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Courtney T
- Postcode
- TN17 3PR
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area, having particular regard to its location within the High Weald National Landscape
- Whether sufficient ecological information has been provided to assess the potential impact of the development on protected species
What decided it
The proposal would introduce a materially larger and more intrusive built form that would harm the character and appearance of the High Weald National Landscape and fail to satisfy Policy H10 criterion (c), combined with insufficient ecological information to assess impacts on protected species.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy H10Policy LBD1Policy EN1Policy EN25Policy 4Policy 5Policy 14Policy LN3.5Policy EN19Policy LN3.1
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


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The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025
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- Dismissed28 August 202660062602 Ashfield Cottages, Horns Hill, Hawkhurst, Cranbrook, TN18 4XD
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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