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Dismissed11 July 20253361928

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

Planning appeal 3361928 at Melville, Bethersden Road, Smarden, Kent, TN27 8QU (Ashford Borough Council) was dismissed on 11 July 2025 by Inspector Kemmann-Lane T, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the site is a suitable location for a new dwelling.

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
Postcode
TN27 8QU

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.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy HOU5Policy HOU10Policy ENV3a
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 2Paragraph 11Paragraph 232

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.

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The decision letter

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More decisions in Ashford Borough Council

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

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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.