Replacement farm dwelling at Owley Lodge, Owley Farm, Wittersham
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Ashford Planning Committee on 24 Sept 2025.
The site and surroundings
The site lies in countryside within the High Weald National Landscape, beside ancient woodland and pasture, and forms part of an agricultural farm.
“The application site is located off Acton Lane in the parish of Wittersham. Falling outside of the built-up confines of the village the site is situated within the countryside and forms part of the High Weald National Landscape.”
“The site comprises of Owley Lodge which is a single storey dwelling with an associated single storey detached garage block to the western edge of the site. The remainder of the site is set aside as private garden amenity space and driveway / parking. The site lies immediately to the north of Bulbeggar Wood which is designated as ancient and semi natural woodland.”
Officer report
Earlier planning history
The existing agricultural dwelling and detached garage were permitted in 1997 and remain subject to agricultural occupancy.
“The following is relevant relating to the application; -”
“97/00153/AS Proposed new farmhouse dwelling and detached garage and farm office annexe Permitted 06/02/1997”
Officer report
Consultation responses
The parish council supported the application, while consultees raised no objections subject to tree retention, ecological, lighting and foul-water conditions; no neighbours objected.
“Wittersham Parish Council: Supports this application but in doing so asks that as many trees as possible are kept.”
“KCC Ecological Advice: Consider that sufficient information has been submitted in support of this application and no further surveys are required. They do not object to the proposal subject to the imposition of conditions relating to bat mitigation and external lighting on any permission. They note that the applicant considers the scheme to be exempt from BNG.”
Officer report
Who spoke
The Ward Member attended and spoke in support of the application.
The committee decision
The committee authorised officers to grant permission, subject to conditions and notes considered reasonable and necessary.
“That the Assistant Director - Planning and Development and the Strategic Development and Delivery Manager be authorised to GRANT PERMISSION Subject to such conditions and notes as they consider reasonable and necessary.”
Minutes
The members' reasons
The minutes do not record the members' reasons for departing from the officers' recommendation.
Sources
- Ashford Planning Committee minutes, 24 September 2025
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Ashford's committee minutes and officer report. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.
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See the API →At the meeting
- Committee
- Ashford Planning Committee
- Council
- Ashford
- Date
- Wednesday 24 September 2025
- Recommendation
- Officers recommended refusal
- Committee decided
- Approved, against officer advice
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
- The application (council website)
- All decisions
- Ashford committee decisions →
This committee's year
11 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting, 2 against officer advice.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.