25-25A West Street, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME10 1AL

Planning appeal 6004642 at 25-25A West Street, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME10 1AL (Swale Borough Council) was dismissed on 28 May 2026 by Inspector Housden C, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The effect on the character and appearance of the host building and area.

partial change of use of ground floor offices to residential, and erection of a two storey rear extension, first floor side extension and a second floor, to create 3no. new residential flats including alterations to existing flat

Authority: Swale Borough Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector: Housden C
Postcode: ME10 1AL

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

The effect on the character and appearance of the host building and area

What decided it

The adverse effects of granting planning permission would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits when assessed against the policies of the Framework as a whole, such that the presumption in favour of sustainable development would not apply.

The significant harm to character and appearance, carrying significant weight against the development, outweighed the limited weight attributable to housing supply benefits and modest economic benefits, such that the adverse effects significantly and demonstrably outweighed the benefits.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies: CP 4DM 14DM 16
National Planning Policy Framework: Paragraph 11Paragraph 124Paragraph 125Paragraph 135Paragraph 139Paragraph 232

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 Swale

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.