®Planning appeal decision
23 Market Square, Westerham, Kent, TN16 1AN
change of use from E(b) to C3(a) for an existing restaurant store. Conversion of the existing store to a dwelling with a proposed first floor extension
- Authority
- Sevenoaks District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Housden C
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area, including whether the proposed development would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Westerham Conservation Area (CA) and conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the Kent Downs National Landscape (KDNL)
What decided it
The considerable harm to the character and appearance of the Conservation Area and the natural beauty of the Kent Downs National Landscape, which outweighs the limited public benefits of housing delivery and brownfield reuse.
The considerable harm to the Conservation Area and National Landscape character, given significant weight due to consistency with Framework paragraphs 135, 139, 189 and 212, outweighed the limited public benefits of one dwelling, small economic benefits during construction, and minor environmental benefits; the Framework policies protecting designated heritage assets and National Landscapes provided a strong reason for refusal that displaced the presumption in favour of sustainable development.
Framework references: 11, 125, 135, 139, 189, 212, 215, 232
Plan policies cited: Policy SP1 of the Sevenoaks District Council Local Development Framework Core Strategy (2011), Policy EN1 of the Sevenoaks District Council Allocations and Development Management Plan (2015), Policy EN4 of the Sevenoaks District Council Allocations and Development Management Plan (2015), Policy EN5 of the Sevenoaks District Council Allocations and Development Management Plan (2015)
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.