Brishing Court Farm, Brishing Lane, Maidstone, ME17 4NF

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the proposed development would preserve the setting of the nearby Grade II* listed building, Brishing Court
• the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
• whether the proposed development would provide a suitable location for housing, having regard to the Council's spatial strategy for the supply of housing, with reference to the accessibility to services and facilities
• the effect of the proposed development on protected species

What decided it

The moderate harm to the significance of the Grade II* listed building Brishing Court through development within its setting, combined with the unsuitability of the location for housing and harm to character and appearance, could not be justified by the public benefits of a single dwelling.

The public benefits of housing delivery, self-build provision, and local economic benefits attracted substantial weight but were insufficient to overcome the considerable importance and weight given to the harm to the designated heritage asset, the harm to character and appearance, the unsuitability of the location, and the potential harm to protected species; the presumption in favour of sustainable development did not apply as the proposal did not meet the requirements of Policy S5(1) and no exceptional circumstances were demonstrated.