Poor quality farmland, not best and most versatile. Source: the Predictive Agricultural Land Classification Map (Defra and Natural England, 2025; the Welsh Government's Predictive ALC Map 2 in Wales), a model rather than a site survey. Natural England's Provisional ALC map (1:250,000, 1970s), which most planning maps still show, had this area as grade 3. The predicted grade is Defra's current estimate; only a site survey settles it.

Where development of farmland is needed, policy prefers poorer land over the best and most versatile (grades 1, 2 and 3a). Three sources: Natural England's post-1988 field surveys, which are definitive where they exist; the Defra predictive map for England (2025) and the Welsh Government predictive map, modelled from the soil map with 3a and 3b split; and the 1970s provisional map, which planners and other services still show, coarser and with grade 3 undivided. Where the provisional and predicted grades disagree, treat the predicted grade as the current estimate and expect an application to carry its own survey.

Public footpath 22 m away

Matters where it crosses or adjoins the site: obstructing a path without a diversion order is an offence, and work cannot start until the order is confirmed.

Compiled from highway authority data, not the legal definitive map. A few authorities have not published, so no path shown is not proof there is none.

Also on the record

Radon affected area, class 2.

Not affected

Outside flood zones 2 and 3 · Not green belt · No listed building at the site

Checked on 6 October 2026. Historic England, the Environment Agency, Natural England, the British Geological Survey and UK Health Security Agency (radon, contains BGS materials © UKRI) and council datasets, Open Government Licence. A boundary can run through a site and the council holds the definitive record: confirm with the council before relying on this.

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Other new applications on this street

21 Aug 2026Pending

Stourcliffe Common Mead Lane Gillingham SP8 4RE

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20 May 2026Approved

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Nearby new applications

21 Aug 2026Pending

Stourcliffe Common Mead Lane Gillingham SP8 4RE

Erect new dwelling with attached garage (Demolish existing dwelling and garage)

P/FUL/2026/04602

19 Aug 2026Approved

4 Stour Meadows Gillingham SP8 4SG

Erect two storey rear extension and raise garage roof to create mezzanine floor.

P/HOU/2026/04256

4 Aug 2026Pending

Land At E 380065 N 125760 Common Mead Lane Gillingham

Change of use from agricultural land to cemetery.

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Important details

Council: Dorset
Application type: Tree Works- TPO
Postcode: SP8 4RA
Received: 16 Sept 2026
Validated: 16 Sept 2026
Ward: Gillingham Ward
Parish: Gillingham
Case officer: Show
Decision level: Delegated
Applicant: Show
Agent: Show

Decision outlook

Day 23 of the 56-day target. Dorset usually decides tree and landscaping works by day 25.

prediction

Day 2333 days to the 56-day target

99%decided within 8 weeks

95%approved

1,635decided in the last year

Plota live figures for tree and landscaping works decided by Dorset in the last twelve months, from validation. Dorset decision record →

Consultation & key dates

Comments by: 8 Oct 2026

Historical activity at this location

2 nearby applications on record - archival context, not part of the live application.

Within ~100m

Nearby activity

2024 Approved

27 Freame Way Gillingham SP8 4RA

Erect single storey side extension

P/HOU/2024/04667 30 Sep 2024

2021 Approved

17 Freame Way Gillingham Dorset SP8 4RA

Demolish existing conservatory and erect rear extension.

P/HOU/2021/01811 13 Sep 2021

Dorset

Planning Authority Score

7.5/10

Good

#44 of 296 councils

Relevant to this application:

Householder decisions

Dorset is faster than most councils at deciding householder applications, ranking #51 out of 296. Householder applications are slightly more likely to be approved here (95%) than the national average (90%).

Faster than most councils

for householder decisions

These figures are council-wide context, not a prediction for this application. View full council performance

Dorset decision statistics

Based on MHCLG data, the year to March 2026

92%

Overall approval rate

Above avg (87%) #80 of 296

95%

Householder approved

Above avg (90%) #74 of 296

78%

Decided in 8 weeks

Above avg (63%) #51 of 296

35%

Extended time limit

Below avg (41%) #102 of 296

81%

Minor dwellings approved

344 decided (1-9 homes)

85%

Major dwellings approved

40 decided (10+ homes)

76%

Change of use approved

85 decided

2,781

Total decisions

233 refused in the year to March 2026