GREEN LIGHT FOR INFILL IN LEIGH GREEN BELT

Hume Planning has successfully challenged the decision of Sevenoaks District Council to refuse a proposal for a large single dwelling close to the village of Leigh with the appeal allowed by a Government Inspector.   

Pivotal to the appeal was the interpretation of the definition of “limited infilling” and whether the development would meet an exception to inappropriate development within the Green Belt. The Council defended a strict interpretation of “infill” within their Green Belt SPD and did not accept the appeal site was within a village location.

Although based on the individual site circumstances this appeal decision represents a test case and provides improved clarity for planning practitioners about the interpretation of “infilling”. We are very satisfied that the planning case we put together for the Appellant was accepted by the appeal Inspector and our own original recommendations to the client at the appraisal stage of the project resulted in a successful outcome.