Crockham Farmhouse, Crockham Lane, Hernehill, Kent, ME13 9LB

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

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.

Framework references: 88, 89, 15, 6

Plan policies cited: Policy ST 1, Policy ST 3, Policy DM 3, Policy DM 14, Policy DM 28

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

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.

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What an account adds

Draw a red line around your site and the appraisal follows.
- Heritage. Listed buildings by grade and distance, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, heritage at risk.
- Landscape and environment. Green belt, national parks and national landscapes, SSSIs, ancient woodland, SPA, SAC and Ramsar sites, nutrient catchments.
- Flooding. Flood zones 2 and 3, surface water, and both again with climate change.
- Transport. The 800 metre station catchment and service frequency, bus stops with their weekday frequency, the cycle network, and the Framework’s transport tests measured for the site.
Then the development plan position, the housing land supply as an Inspector last accepted it, and every appeal decided around the site with its letter.
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