Dartford’s Development Control Board voted seven to one at its July meeting to support the council’s approach in defending an enforcement notice appeal over land adjacent to Homefield, Green Street Green Road.

Dartford Borough Council’s Development Control Board agreed the council’s approach in defending an appeal against an enforcement notice at land adjacent to Homefield, Green Street Green Road, when it met on 16 July 2026. The vote was seven in favour, one against and four abstentions.

Background to the appeal

The Head of Development Management explained that the justification for serving the enforcement notice was that an uncontrolled development would be inappropriate in the Green Belt, with other identified harms. The appeal hearing was scheduled for 15 September 2026.

Council’s position

The board agreed to defend the ground (a) appeal — that planning permission should be granted subject to a number of conditions to control the use of the land and restrict development on it. Officers warned members that if the board decided to defend the appeal on the basis that planning permission should not be granted, the council would be vulnerable to an award of costs against it.

The Head of Development Management noted that controls could be put in place via suitably worded conditions, and that permission could fall away if certain requirements were not met, which she described as a significant incentive for the applicant to comply. The council also indicated it would, subject to reviewing the appellant’s case, review the two-month time period for compliance with the notice.

Members’ concerns

During discussion, members raised questions about unmet need for traveller sites, protected paddocks and enforcement notices. The chairman reminded members that a hardstanding surface was to be implemented first, followed by the caravans being reinstated. Members were also encouraged to attend the hearing to defend the council’s position.

Sources

Top image: illustrative, computer-generated. Illustrative AI-generated image. This is not a photograph of Green Street Green Road or any real identified site.