®Planning appeal decision
Land West of Lower Featherby Road, Gillingham, Medway, Kent, ME7 2XS
demolition of existing dwelling and buildings and erection of 14no. dwellings with associated access, parking, infrastructure, landscaping and ancillary works
- Authority
- Medway Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Dyer I
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the site is a suitable location for the proposal, having regard to local policy for the provision of housing
- The effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the site and the surrounding area
- The effect of the proposal on the provision of gypsy and traveller sites
- The effect of the proposal on Protected Sites
What decided it
The substantial harm to the character and appearance of the area and the rural landscape, combined with the failure to provide sustainable transport accessibility, outweighed the modest housing benefits in circumstances where the development plan policies accord with Framework objectives.
The adverse impacts of the proposal, comprising substantial harm to landscape character and appearance, failure to promote sustainable transport, and loss of a traveller pitch, significantly and demonstrably outweighed the moderate benefits of providing 14 homes (including 2 first homes) and limited economic benefits, such that the presumption in favour of sustainable development was not engaged.
Framework references: 11, 15, 22, 63, 115
Plan policies cited: Policy S1, Policy S2, Policy BNE25, Policy BNE1, Policy BNE34, Policy H13, Policy T10
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.