Planning Appeal Allowed for a Residential Development in Gravesend, Kent

Image by Invent Architecture

We are delighted to have won a planning appeal against a refused decision by Gravesham Borough Council, who had resisted a residential development in Gravesend in Kent.  

The proposed development was for the demolition of the existing dwelling and erection of 2 no.3 bedroom and 1 no. 2-bedroom terraced dwellings and the creation of new vehicle crossovers.

On this project we worked with local Kent-based architects, Invent Architecture, who provided the design.

The Main Planning Appeal Issues

The Council had refused the application because of the effect upon the character and appearance of the surrounding area and highway safety.

The character and appearance of the surrounding area

With regard to the character and appearance of the surrounding area, we presented a detailed contextual analysis of the surrounding area as part of the planning appeal submission to the Planning Inspectorate.

We demonstrated that the existing dwelling was of no particular architectural merit, was on a corner plot, represented inefficient development and that the surrounding area had a mixed and varied development character.

It was through this analysis that we were able to highlight to the Planning Inspectorate that the Council did not have a grasp of what the true character of the area was and had adopted an unnecessarily restrictive approach in its decision making.

The Planning Inspector consequently concluded that the proposal would integrate well and would not harm the character and appearance of the surrounding area.

Highway Safety

The proposed scheme included a new vehicle crossing, however Gravesham Borough Council deemed this crossing to be unsafe.

Kent County Council’s highways guidance recommends that vehicle crossings should be located more than 10m from a road junction in order to avoid the creation of a serious hazard. As a part of the appeal submissions, further diagrammatic evidence was presented to highlight that the proposed crossing met the recommended guidelines.

The Appeal Decision

In making his planning appeal decision, the Planning Inspector agreed the evidence we submitted and concluded that the proposed development would not character and appearance of the area or impact upon highway safety and that it would fully accord with the development plan. 

For more information about backland development, garden land development and infill development, please read here.

Contact Us

Have you had a refused planning decision? Or do you have a development project and require planning advice? If so, please contact us a mail@adpltd.co.uk or use the form below to understand how we can assist you and your project.