Planning appeal decision
Pear Tree House Otterham Quay Lane, Rainham, Gillingham, ME8 8QW
Planning appeal 3362798 at Pear Tree House Otterham Quay Lane, Rainham, Gillingham, ME8 8QW (Swale Borough Council) was dismissed on 15 October 2025 by Inspector Miles H, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area.
demolition of 4no. former agricultural buildings, and erection of 1no. self-build detached dwelling and car port with associated hard and soft landscaping
- Authority
- Swale Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Miles H
- Postcode
- ME8 8QW
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area
What decided it
The serious harm to the character and appearance of the area and the rural character of the ICLG significantly and demonstrably outweighed the modest benefits of providing one self-build dwelling in an area with a housing shortfall.
The modest benefits of providing one self-build dwelling in an area with housing shortfall were significantly and demonstrably outweighed by the serious harm to character and appearance and the failure to secure a well-designed place, applying the presumption in favour of sustainable development under paragraph 11(d) of the Framework.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- CP4DM14DM25ST1ST3CP3
- 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 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 Swale
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025
- Allowed13 January 20263368690Webbenditch Cottage, Cold Harbour Lane, Bobbing, Kent, ME9 8NN
- Dismissed10 December 20253371490Callum Park, Basser Hill, Lower Halstow, Kent, ME9 7TY
- Dismissed10 December 20253367559Land West of Head Hill Road, Graveney, Kent , ME13 9DE
- Allowed10 December 20253365131Land At Sandbanks Lane And Seasalter Road, Graveney, Kent , ME13 9DU
- Dismissed5 December 20253373615Land Adj Matts Hill Farm Industrial Estate, Matts Hill Lane, Hartlip Sittingbourne, Kent, ME97UY
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.
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