®Planning appeal decision
Trench Farmhouse, Coldharbour Lane, Hildenborough, Tonbridge, TN11 9LE
Planning appeal 3374700 at Trench Farmhouse, Coldharbour Lane, Hildenborough, Tonbridge, TN11 9LE (Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council) was dismissed on 24 March 2026 by Inspector Cliff D, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt and, if so, the effect on the openness and purposes of the Green Belt.
demolition of single storey outbuilding and construction of single storey garden room and secondary entrance to dwelling
- Appeal type
- householder · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Householder developments
- Inspector
- Cliff D
- Postcode
- TN11 9LE
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt and, if so, the effect on the openness and purposes of the Green Belt
- Whether the proposal would preserve a Grade II listed building, 'Trench Farmhouse', and any features of special architectural or historic interest it possesses
- Whether the proposal would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Coldharbour – Hildenborough Conservation Area
- Whether any harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations, so as to amount to the very special circumstances required to justify the proposal
What decided it
The cumulative effect of the proposed extension combined with the existing substantial rear extension would amount to disproportionate additions to the original dwelling in the Green Belt, and would fail to preserve the special interest of the listed building and character of the Conservation Area, with no public benefits to outweigh the identified harms.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy CP1(3)Policy CP3Policy CP24Policy SQ1
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 154Paragraph 153Paragraph 212Paragraph 213Paragraph 215
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.
See how each was appliedThe decision letter
Town Planner Pro holds this letter. The Appeals plan opens it and every other letter we hold, all of them searchable, with the main issues and what decided each case picked out. We do not show letters on the free site because they carry people’s names and addresses.
With an account
What an account adds to this decision
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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.