Planning appeal decision
Crockham Farmhouse, Crockham Lane, Hernehill, Kent, ME13 9LB
Planning appeal 6002842 at Crockham Farmhouse, Crockham Lane, Hernehill, Kent, ME13 9LB (Swale Borough Council) was dismissed on 15 May 2026 by Inspector Johnson B, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the appeal site would be a suitable location for the proposed development, with particular regard to the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area.
Change of use of shepherds hut for use as a holiday let
- Authority
- Swale Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- leisure-sport · Change of use
- Inspector
- Johnson B
- Postcode
- ME13 9LB
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the appeal site would be a suitable location for the proposed development, with particular regard to the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
- the effect of the proposal on the integrity of the Swale Special Protection Area (SPA)
What decided it
The proposal would have an adverse effect on the integrity of the Swale SPA in the absence of mitigation measures, and the Inspector could not impose a condition requiring a planning obligation to secure SAMMS contributions.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy ST 1Policy ST 3Policy DM 3Policy DM 14Policy DM 28
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 88Paragraph 89Paragraph 15Paragraph 6
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


More decisions in Swale
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2026
- Dismissed27 February 20266001551Orchard View, Eastling Road, Eastling, Kent, ME13 0AN
- Dismissed16 July 20253356382Vanity Farm, Leysdown Road, Leysdown, Kent, ME12 4LN
- Dismissed5 March 20253347790Woodgate Farm, Woodgate Lane, Borden , Sittingbourne, ME9 8JX
- Dismissed28 November 20243341202Littles Manor Oast, North Street, Sheldwich, Kent, ME13 0LP
- Dismissed31 October 20243341877Orchard View, Eastling Road, Eastling, Kent, ME13 0AN
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.
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