®Planning appeal decision
Lomas, Sole Street, Cobham, Gravesend, Kent, DA12 3AX
Planning appeal 3361071 at Lomas, Sole Street, Cobham, Gravesend, Kent, DA12 3AX (Gravesham Borough Council) was dismissed on 29 July 2025 by Inspector Harley S, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area.
demolition of the existing dwelling. Sub division of the plot and erection of 2 new dwellings
- Authority
- Gravesham Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Harley S
- Postcode
- DA12 3AX
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
- whether adequate living conditions would be provided for future occupiers of the proposed dwellings
- the effect of the proposals on the living conditions of occupiers of nearby properties
- whether the effect of the proposals on the Thames Estuary and Marshes Special Protection Area (SPA) and Ramsar Site would be satisfactorily mitigated
What decided it
The cramped and contrived nature of the development, combined with failures to provide adequate living conditions for future occupiers and neighbours, and the absence of mitigation for impacts on the protected sites, meant the adverse impacts significantly and demonstrably outweighed the benefits of housing delivery.
The modest benefits of housing delivery and efficient use of land were significantly and demonstrably outweighed by the harmful effects on character and appearance, living conditions of future occupiers and neighbours, and unmitigated impacts on the Thames Estuary and Marshes SPA and Ramsar Site.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy CS14Policy CS15Policy CS19Policy CS12
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 75
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 Gravesham
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025
- Dismissed20 March 202633670141 Codington Gardens, Gravesend, Kent, DA12 5DB
- Dismissed17 December 20253371111Land at Stoney Wood, Wrotham Road, South Street, Meopham, Kent, DA13 0QG
- Dismissed29 July 20253359306Lomas, Sole Street, Cobham, Gravesend, Kent, DA12 3AX
- Dismissed6 December 20243343979Chalk Pit Cottages, Green Farm Lane, Shorne, Gravesend, Kent, DA12 3HN
- Allowed26 October 20266014077282 Lower Higham Road, Gravesend, DA12 2NR
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.