Former Brasted Coal Yard, Station Road , Brasted , Kent , TN16 1NT

the change of use of land to Gypsy/Traveller site comprising 2 pitches including the siting of 1 mobile home, 1 touring caravan and 1 small utility room per pitch. Summary

Authority: Sevenoaks District Council
Appeal type: enforcement · Enforcement Notice
Procedure: Hearing
Development: caravan-gypsy · Change of use
Inspector: Steen A

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

the effect of the development on the landscape and scenic beauty of the Kent Downs National Landscape
whether occupiers enjoy satisfactory living conditions, having particular regard to noise and disturbance
the effect of the relationship of the development to the M25 motorway on the safe and efficient operation of the highway network in the vicinity of the appeal site
whether there are material considerations that would outweigh any conflict with development plan policies, such as the need for the development and personal circumstances of the occupiers of the site

What decided it

The considerable weight attributable to the unmet need for Gypsy and Traveller pitches, combined with the family's lack of alternative accommodation, outweighed the conflict with the development plan and the identified harms.

Considerable weight given to the need for Gypsy and Traveller pitches and the family's lack of alternative accommodation outweighed the conflict with the development plan, the poor noise-related living conditions and the modest harm to the Kent Downs National Landscape, tipping the balance in favour of allowing the appeal.

Plan policies cited: Policy EN1, Policy EN2, Policy EN5, Policy EN7, Policy SP 6

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

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.

What an account adds

Draw a red line around your site and the appraisal follows.

Heritage. Listed buildings by grade and distance, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, heritage at risk.
Landscape and environment. Green belt, national parks and national landscapes, SSSIs, ancient woodland, SPA, SAC and Ramsar sites, nutrient catchments.
Flooding. Flood zones 2 and 3, surface water, and both again with climate change.
Transport. The 800 metre station catchment and service frequency, bus stops with their weekday frequency, the cycle network, and the Framework’s transport tests measured for the site.

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