Policy information sourced from the Maidstone Borough Council Local Plan 2021-2038
LPRCD6: Expansion of Existing Businesses in Rural Area.
1. Planning permission will be granted for the sustainable growth and expansion of rural businesses in the countryside where:
- i. New buildings and proposed access thereto are appropriate in scale and provided the resultant development as a whole is appropriate in scale for the location and can be satisfactorily integrated into the local landscape;
- ii. The increase in floorspace would not result in unacceptable traffic levels or types on nearby roads or a significant increase in use of an existing substandard access;
- iii. The new development, together with the existing facilities, will not result in an unacceptable impact on the amenity of the area. In particular the impact on nearby properties and the appearance of the development from public roads will be of importance; and
- iv. No open storage of materials will be permitted unless adequately screened from public view throughout the year.
2. Where significant adverse impacts on the rural environment and amenity would result from expansion, rural businesses requiring expanded premises should look to relocate to one of the Economic Development Areas identified in policy LPRSP11(A) or allocated employment sites as identified in policy LPRSP11(B), or to a site within Maidstone Urban Area or one of the Rural Service Centres.
For more information, please visit Maidstone’s Local Plan Maidstone Borough Council Local Plan 2021-2038