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Allowed1 October 20266004899

Lower Fawke Farm, Bitchet Green Road, Fawke Common, Underriver, TN15 0JX

Planning appeal 6004899 at Lower Fawke Farm, Bitchet Green Road, Fawke Common, Underriver, TN15 0JX (Sevenoaks) was allowed on 1 October 2026, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the proposal on the Kent Downs National Landscape.

Conversion and change of use of former agricultural buildings to a mix of commercial B8 (storage and distribution) and E(g) (ii) (iii) uses following demolition of buildings unsuitable for conversion

Authority
Sevenoaks
Appeal type
Planning
Procedure
Written
Development
employment-industrial
Postcode
TN15 0JX

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • the effect of the proposal on the Kent Downs National Landscape
  • whether the site is suitably located for the proposed development, having regard to its accessibility and effects on highway safety

What decided it

The finding that vehicle movements and other effects of the proposed uses would be comparable to the existing agricultural use meant the proposal would preserve the Kent Downs National Landscape and cause no harm to highway or pedestrian safety, allowing it to benefit from the presumption in favour of sustainable development.

the benefits of the scheme, including biodiversity enhancements and support for rural business diversification, attracted substantial weight and were not substantially outweighed by any adverse effects, so the proposal benefited from the presumption in favour of sustainable development

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
LO1LO8EN1EN5GB7T3
National Planning Policy Framework
Policy N4Policy DP3Policy TR3Policy E4Policy TR6Policy TR8Policy GB7Policy S3Policy S5Policy HC8Policy GB6Policy GB8Policy L2

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 Sevenoaks

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

  1. Planning permission granted28 September 20263378336
    Land South East Of Oaklands, St Clere Hill Road, West Kingsdown, Kent, TN15 6AH
  2. Allowed24 September 20266011192
    Land Surrounding The Stables, Underriver House Road, Underriver, TN15 0SJ
  3. Dismissed22 September 20266012481
    Well Hill Nursery, Fountain Farm, Firmingers Road, Orpington, BR6 7QH
  4. Allowed22 September 20266012162
    Oakwood House, School Lane, West Kingsdown, TN15 6AW
  5. Dismissed21 September 20266007121
    Deerleap Bank, Halstead Lane, Knockholt, TN14 7EP

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.