18 Station Road, Longfield, Kent, DA3 7QD

Planning appeal 3374169 at 18 Station Road, Longfield, Kent, DA3 7QD (Dartford Borough Council) was dismissed on 26 January 2026 by Inspector Courtney T, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area.

the demolition of existing mix use building and erection of new mixed use, three-storey building with a ground floor pharmacy with 1 replacement and 9 new residential dwellings above, parking, access, bins and cycle provision (landscape reserved matters)

Authority: Dartford Borough Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Other minor developments
Inspector: Courtney T
Postcode: DA3 7QD

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

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

What decided it

The poor architectural resolution of the scheme, particularly the fragmented roofscape, weak corner treatment and lack of detailing, causes significant harm to character and appearance that is not outweighed by the housing and economic benefits in a context of adequate five-year housing land supply.

The benefits of nine net additional dwellings, improved commercial unit, economic activity and sustainable location were outweighed by the significant harm to character and appearance arising from poor design quality in a plan-led system with adequate housing land supply.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies: Policy M1 of the Dartford Local Plan 2037
National Planning Policy Framework: Paragraph 135

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

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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.