4 Dwellings Outside of Settlement Allowed on in Ashord

In 2015, I secured planning permission on appeal for residential development on land located outside a defined settlement boundary in Charing within Ashford Borough, Kent.

The scheme sought to deliver new homes on a site positioned at the edge of an existing village, making effective use of land that was closely related to established built form.

The objective was to demonstrate that, despite falling outside the boundary, the site functioned as part of the wider settlement and represented a logical and sustainable opportunity for growth.

Developments of this nature are often key to boosting housing supply—particularly where smaller, edge-of-settlement sites can deliver homes quickly and efficiently.

The Planning Issue

The application had been refused on the basis that the site lay outside the settlement boundary, where development is typically restricted under local policy.

Through the planning appeal, I challenged this position by focusing on the underlying purpose of settlement boundaries and national policy.

I demonstrated that the site was not isolated, sitting adjacent to existing development with access to services and facilities.

I also presented evidence around housing need and the limitations of the Council’s land supply position, showing that strict reliance on the settlement boundary was not justified in this instance.

Importantly, I set out a clear planning balance—highlighting that the social and economic benefits of delivering new homes outweighed any limited policy conflict.

The Planning Inspector agreed with my case and allowed the appeal, confirming that development outside a settlement boundary can be acceptable where sites are sustainable and policy is applied flexibly.

Planning Appeal Advice

If you have a development project and you have received a planning refusal, contact me for practical advice on whether an appeal is the right option and how to proceed.

Andrew Ransome MRTPI Email: andrew@adpltd.co.uk | Tel: 01206 242070

About me

Andrew Ransome is the planning director at ADP and is a chartered member of the RTPI, with over 22 years of town planning experience.

Andrew has extensive experience offering strategic planning solutions to challenging projects in both rural and urban settings. Follow him on Linkedin.

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