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Dismissed15 July 20266004796

Land Adjoining to Homewell House, Maidstone Road Service Road West, Sutton Valence Maidstone, ME173LS

Planning appeal 6004796 at Land Adjoining to Homewell House, Maidstone Road Service Road West, Sutton Valence Maidstone, ME173LS (Maidstone Borough Council) was dismissed on 15 July 2026 by Inspector Andrew Owen, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area.

erection of 6 no. new build homes with associated parking, landscaping and access via new vehicle crossover

Authority
Maidstone Borough Council
Appeal type
Planning
Procedure
Written
Development
residential
Inspector
Andrew Owen
Postcode
ME17 3LS

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area
  • whether the development would be suitably located with regard to its accessibility to services and facilities by sustainable modes of transport
  • the effect on biodiversity

What decided it

The significant harm to the character and appearance of the area caused by the loss of a valuable open gap in the linear development pattern substantially outweighs the benefits of housing supply and sustainable location.

The adverse impacts of harm to character and appearance and conflict with design policies significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of housing supply and sustainable location, such that the presumption in favour of sustainable development does not apply.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
LPRSP9LPRQD4LPRSP15LPRSS1LPRSP14(A)
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 11Paragraph 61Paragraph 129Paragraph 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.

See how each was applied

The decision letter

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More decisions in Maidstone Borough Council

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

  1. Dismissed29 October 20266010536
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  3. Allowed27 October 20266011721
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    Little Southernden, Southernden Road, Headcorn, TN27 9LL
  5. Allowed26 October 20266010539
    Land Rear Of 58 Church Street, Boughton Monchelsea, Maidstone, ME17 4HN

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.

In the app this decision sits on the map beside every appeal around it, with its letter to read and the main issues, policies and judgments cited picked out.