Published: Thursday, 12th November 2026
The Council has won a planning appeal against landowners who developed land at Church Road, Sundridge without planning permission.
In April 2026, the landowners at Birchfield Wood, Church Road, Sundridge moved on to the site overnight laying hardstanding, tarmac and installing mobile homes. The works on the Green Belt site were carried out a pace without planning permission.
The Council immediately placed a temporary Stop Notice on the land which was followed up with an Enforcement Notice within a week of the works taking place. This was appealed by the landowners in September 2026.
Earlier this week (10 November), the Planning Inspectorate dismissed the appeal by landowners, upheld the Enforcement Notice and refused to grant planning permission on the application.
The landowners now have 12 months to remove all mobile homes and touring caravans from the land. They must also return the land to its condition before the breach took place.
The Council’s Cabinet member for Planning, Cllr Nigel Williams, says: “We will always do everything in our power to take action against those who carry out developments without permission.
“This site is in the heart of the Green Belt and the Kent Downs National Landscape, and it was completely correct that the Planning Inspector dismissed the appeal against our Enforcement Notice.
“This now means that, if the landowners do not conform with our Enforcement Notice in the next 12 months, we can take further action through the courts.”
For further updates visit www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/churchroadsundridge
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