Plot 2 The Meadows, Lenham Road, Headcorn, Kent, TN27 9LG

Planning appeal 3373625 at Plot 2 The Meadows, Lenham Road, Headcorn, Kent, TN27 9LG (Maidstone Borough Council) was allowed on 27 January 2026 by Inspector Walker R, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The effect of the proposals on the character and appearance of the area.

change of use of land to provide a single pitch, comprising a static home and touring caravan pitch, for residential use by Gypsies or Travellers within an existing Gypsy and Traveller site (part retrospective). Appeal B:

Authority: Maidstone Borough Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: caravan-gypsy · Minor traveller and caravan pitches
Inspector: Walker R
Postcode: TN27 9LG

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

The effect of the proposals on the character and appearance of the area

What decided it

The Council's inability to demonstrate a five-year supply of gypsy and traveller pitches triggered the presumption in favour of sustainable development under paragraph 11(d) of the Framework, which outweighed the significant harm to character and appearance.

The significant harm to character and appearance of the area was outweighed by the significant weight afforded to the contribution the appeal sites would make to addressing the identified shortfall in gypsy and traveller accommodation, applying the presumption in favour of sustainable development

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies: LPRHOU8LPRSP9LPRQD4HNP1HNP2HNP5
National Planning Policy Framework: Paragraph 11Paragraph 26Paragraph 28Paragraph 135Paragraph 187

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.

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The decision letter

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More decisions in Maidstone Borough Council

The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2026

Planning permission granted10 June 20263347386
Land at The Meadows, Lenham Road, Headcorn, TN27 9LG
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Land East of Water Lane, Headcorn, Kent, TN27 9JP
Allowed2 March 20263375644
Plot 8, Eclipse Park, Sittingbourne Road, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 3EN
Allowed24 October 20253367625
Merrymaids Farm, Couchman Green Lane, Staplehurst, Kent, TN12 0RR
Allowed12 September 20253367233
Plot 3, The Meadows, Lenham Road, Headcorn, Maidstone, Kent, TN27 9LG

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.