326 Pump Lane, Rainham, Gillingham, ME8 7TJ

Planning appeal 3362752 at 326 Pump Lane, Rainham, Gillingham, ME8 7TJ (Medway Council) was dismissed on 9 September 2025 by Inspector Grierson E, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the surrounding area.

two new-build dwelling houses on the land adjacent to 326 Pump Lane

Authority: Medway Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector: Grierson E
Postcode: ME8 7TJ

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the surrounding area
the effect of the proposed development on the living conditions of the occupiers of the neighbouring dwelling, 326 Pump Lane, with regard to outlook

What decided it

The substantial harm to character and appearance of the rural area and to neighbouring living conditions outweighs the limited housing benefit of two dwellings, even under the presumption in favour of sustainable development.

The adverse impact of granting planning permission would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the limited benefits of two dwellings when considered against the policies of the Framework taken as a whole, such that the presumption in favour of sustainable development does not apply.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies: Policy BNE1Policy BNE2Policy BNE25Policy BNE34
National Planning Policy Framework: Paragraph 11

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

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.

Appeals plan, £15 a month

With an account

What an account adds to this decision

54 other decided appeals within two kilometres of this site. In the app every dot opens its decision, and its letter wherever one was published, and you can draw your own site to see what has been decided around it.AllowedDismissedSplitThis decision

An appeal decision in the app, with the main issues, policies and judgments cited picked out beside the letter — Every letter, there to read. We pick out the main issues, the policies and the judgments cited, so you can work through the letter faster.

Searching the full text of appeal decision letters in the app — Search inside every letter. By words or by meaning, filtered by authority, outcome, appeal type and procedure, with every locatable decision on the map and the Inspector named on each.

Start your free trial

More decisions in Medway

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

Dismissed26 October 20266014100
130 High Street, Gillingham, ME7 1AS
Dismissed9 October 20266009269
Land Between Cumberland Road and Medway Road, Gillingham, ME7 1NH
Dismissed2 October 20266009769
Street Record, Callis Way, Parkwood, Gillingham, ME8 9PA
Dismissed21 September 20266004691
Land South of Woodview House, Perry Hill, Cliffe Woods, ME3 7TX
Dismissed6 August 20266007660
180-182 Luton Road, Chatham, ME4 5BP

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.