®Planning appeal decision
White House, Stockbury Valley, Stockbury, SITTINGBOURNE, Kent, ME9 7QD
Demolition of outbuildings, removal of mobile home and removal of areas of hardstanding. Construction of seven dwellings with landscaping, car parking, garages, woodland and orchard planting and provision of open space. Alterations to vehicle access from A249 Sittingbourne Road. Retention of the White House and detached outbuilding
- Authority
- Maidstone Borough Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Smith J
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area, with particular reference to whether it would conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the Kent Downs National Landscape
- the effect on highway safety
What decided it
The proposal would fail to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the Kent Downs National Landscape, conflicting with the development plan as a whole, and the modest benefits of housing delivery and ecological enhancement could not overcome the great weight required to be given to landscape conservation.
the modest benefits of housing delivery, ecological enhancement and bringing previously developed land back into use were outweighed by the great weight to be attached to conserving and enhancing the landscape and scenic beauty of the Kent Downs National Landscape
Framework references: 11, 189, 190
Plan policies cited: Policy LPRSP9, Policy LPRSP15, Policy LPRQD4, Policy LPAHOU1, Policy LPRSP10(A), Policy LPRSP14(A), Policy LPRQD2, Policy LPRTRA2
Judgments cited: Holborn Studios Ltd v The Council of the London Borough of Hackney [2017] EWHC 2823 (Admin)
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.