We are pleased that planning permission has been granted for eight new staff houses at Benenden School in Kent. This follows the approval of the floodlit all-weather sports pitch and pavilion earlier in the year. Our Planning team was instrumental in both consents.

LUC contributed to the competition to select the architect (gdm architects), led the pre-application discussions, prepared the planning submission and negotiated the consent. The site is within the High Weald AONB so required a very careful justification of the need for new housing.

LUC also prepared a Heritage Assessment to accompany the application because the site is adjacent to the listed walled garden at the School. LUC’s Ecology team is now securing the licence for the translocation of great crested newt.

Jon Grantham, Planning Director at LUC commented “This permission will see the provision of much needed staff housing which will help maintain Benenden’s pre-eminent position as one of the country’s leading boarding schools for girls. Once again the approach taken by the LUC team, working closely with the architects, has resulted in a scheme supported by officers and approved under delegated powers.”

Image: GDM Architects