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Planning appeal decision

Notice upheld18 July 20253362026

Lynch Bank Farm , Pilgrims Way, Detling, Kent, ME14 3EX

Planning appeal 3362026 at Lynch Bank Farm , Pilgrims Way, Detling, Kent, ME14 3EX (Maidstone Borough Council) was dismissed on 18 July 2025 by Inspector Hand S, following a hearing. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The impact of the extended gypsy site on the national landscape and on biodiversity and the situation regarding the provision of gypsy sites in the district.

siting of 4no. additional mobile homes for Gypsy/Traveller occupation, retention of existing mobile home and day room (mobile home), and erection of storage building (Part Retrospective)

Authority
Maidstone Borough Council
Appeal type
enforcement · Enforcement Notice
Procedure
Hearing
Development
caravan-gypsy · Change of use
Inspector
Hand S
Postcode
ME14 3EX

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • The impact of the extended gypsy site on the national landscape and on biodiversity and the situation regarding the provision of gypsy sites in the district.

What decided it

The personal circumstances and human rights of the appellant's extended family, together with the Council's lack of a five year gypsy pitch supply, outweighed the limited landscape and biodiversity harm identified.

The limited harm to the National Landscape, the biodiversity net gain shortfall and conflict with development plan policies were outweighed by the personal circumstances of the gypsy families, the best interests of the children, and the Council's inability to demonstrate a five year supply of gypsy pitches, so the s78 appeal was allowed; the enforcement (ground a) appeal was dismissed as the appellant no longer sought the larger 7-mobile-home scheme.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
LPRHOU8SD2SD3SD7LPRSP14(A)

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 applied

The decision letter

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More decisions in Maidstone Borough Council

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

  1. Quashed On Legal Grounds28 September 20263378504
    Pear View, Symonds Lane, Yalding, Kent, ME18 6HA
  2. Notice upheld17 July 20263377356
    Stephens Bridge Field, Water Lane, Headcorn, Ashford, Kent, TN27 9JP
  3. Planning permission granted22 June 20263377362
    Lenwood, Polhill Lane, Harrietsham, Maidstone, Kent, ME17 1LG
  4. Planning permission granted10 June 20263347386
    Land at The Meadows, Lenham Road, Headcorn, TN27 9LG
  5. Notice varied and upheld24 April 20263364740
    5 Bower Place, Maidstone, Kent, ME16 8BG

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.