Planning Inspector Appeals

There are a number of planning applications received every week affecting the Rochester South and Horsted ward. The weekly list can be seen on the Council website. Ward councillors always check the listings to see if there are likely to be problematic ones.
We will become involved too if requested by residents. Most applications though are routine in nature and are dealt with under the Planning Officers’ delegated powers whereas others due to their complexity, number of objections received or for reasons of wider public interest have to be determined by the Planning Committee.

On occasions when an application is refused by the Council, an appeal is made to the Planning Inspector who has the power to overrule the Council. One such recent case was recently determined by the Planning Inspector.
This concerned an application to build a 2 bedroom house in the back garden of a property in Haig Avenue. The Council refused the application and we can report that the Planning Inspectorate (under ref: APP/A2280/W/16/3157099: 15 Haig Avenue, ME1 2RZ) agreed with the Council and made the following summary statement on the appeal:

Whilst I have found that the proposal would not harm the character and appearance of the surrounding area, the harm to the living conditions of the occupants of 13 Haig Road is an overriding and compelling objection to the proposal.
I conclude that the proposal would fail to comply with the development plan as a whole and the appeal should be dismissed.

You can read the decision here (PDF Format – required a PDF reader).