Melville, Bethersden Road, Smarden, Kent, TN27 8QU

the erection of one self-build detached dwelling following demolition of garage

Authority: Ashford Borough Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector: Kemmann-Lane T

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether the site is a suitable location for a new dwelling
The effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the site and the surrounding countryside

What decided it

The site is not a sustainable location for a new dwelling and the proposed dwelling would be detrimental to the character and appearance of the site and surrounding countryside, which harms outweigh the minimal housing contribution.

Although the lack of a 5-year housing supply engaged the tilted balance under NPPF paragraph 11, the adverse impacts of the proposal on sustainability of location and character and appearance significantly and demonstrably outweighed the minimal housing benefits.

Framework references: 2, 11, 232

Plan policies cited: Policy HOU5, Policy HOU10, Policy ENV3a

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.

What an account adds

Draw a red line around your site and the appraisal follows.

Heritage. Listed buildings by grade and distance, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, heritage at risk.
Landscape and environment. Green belt, national parks and national landscapes, SSSIs, ancient woodland, SPA, SAC and Ramsar sites, nutrient catchments.
Flooding. Flood zones 2 and 3, surface water, and both again with climate change.
Transport. The 800 metre station catchment and service frequency, bus stops with their weekday frequency, the cycle network, and the Framework’s transport tests measured for the site.

Then the development plan position, the housing land supply as an Inspector last accepted it, and every appeal decided around the site with its letter.

Every English appeal since 2016, with the letter behind it wherever the Inspectorate published one. Searched by meaning as well as by words, with the key case law counted live across the letters.

Casework that chases the deadlines. Applications, appeals and conditions with their statutory dates.

The judgement stays yours. The tool gathers the material and dates it.