Graham Simpkin Planning

Graham Simpkin Planning Helping clients to navigate the planning system & deliver successful development solutions since 1986

Helping clients to navigate the planning system and deliver successful development and architectural solutions since 1986

02/04/2026

Graham Simpkin Planning's decision review of March comprises a mix of domestic, agricultural and residential developments, including:

✅ Lawful development certificate for proposed two storey rear extension, Headcorn Road, Maidstone Borough Council
✅ Appeal allowed for conversion of existing stable building to a dwelling, Green Street Green, Dartford Borough Council
✅ Er****on of a 1,600 sqm extension to an existing cold store / packhouse / distribution building, Town Road, Gravesham Borough Council

For more information on any of these projects, please contact us:
📞 01474 703705
✉️ [email protected]
🌎 www.gsplanning.uk

Graham Simpkin Planning has had further success for a client at appeal for windfall housing within a brownfield site in ...
11/03/2026

Graham Simpkin Planning has had further success for a client at appeal for windfall housing within a brownfield site in Dartford Borough Council's Green Belt.

The appeal proposal involved the conversion of an existing building to a dwelling on what was agreed by the parties to be previously developed land.

The Inspector noted that whilst the cluster of dwellings and commercial uses along a 'B' classified highway was not served by any shops or essential services that nevertheless, the existing dwellings were an indication of a residential community and that a small contribution would be made to social sustainability and support of services in nearby settlements. Taking account of this and being on a bus route that links to nearby settlements, the Inspector concluded that, contrary to the Council's view, the site was not isolated within the countryside.

The Inspector also accepted Graham Simpkin Planning's arguments that there was no evidence to support removing permitted development rights from the proposed dwelling.

For more information on this project, or if you've had a recent refusal that we may be able to assist with, please contact us:
📞 01474 703705
✉️ [email protected]
🌎 www.gsplanning.uk

06/03/2026

Graham Simpkin Planning's decision review of February comprises a mix of leisure, commercial, agricultural and residential developments:

✅ Change of use of existing buildings to offices with associated external alterations, Green Street Green, Dartford Borough Council
✅ Change of use of existing building to a gym with associated external alterations, Green Street Green, Dartford Borough Council
✅ Change of use from assisted living (Use Class C2) to HMO (Sui Generis), Gillingham, Medway Council
✅ Permission in principle for demolition of dwelling & er****on of up to 3 dwellings, Otford, Sevenoaks District Council
✅ Variation to allow polytunnels to be covered all year round, Horton Kirby, Sevenoaks District Council

For more information on any of these projects, please contact us:
📞 01474 703705
✉️ [email protected]
🌎 www.gsplanning.uk

The Government is introducing changes to the way appeals against refused planning applications are handled from April 20...
18/02/2026

The Government is introducing changes to the way appeals against refused planning applications are handled from April 2026.

The changes mean that applications will need to be thorough and well-prepared from the very start. If an application is refused, it will become harder to strengthen your case at the appeal stage. In other words, getting it right the first time matters more than ever, which is why you are likely to benefit from involving both architects and planners.

Here at Graham Simpkin Planning we offer both architectural and planning solutions, courtesy of our fully qualified and chartered professionals.

Contact us today to discuss your project and save yourself time and money in the longer term:

📞 01474 703705
📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.gsplanning.uk

09/02/2026

A BUMPER GSP DECISION ROUNDUP FOR JANUARY!

✅ Domestic extensions, Meopham, Gravesham Borough Council
✅ Detached double garage with store and workshop, Ash, Sevenoaks District Council
✅ Certificate confirming lawful start and continued construction of detached dwelling and outbuilding, Flimwell, Rother District Council
✅ Single storey rear extension, Bean, Dartford Borough Council
✅ Change of use of land to residential, Dartford Borough Council
✅ Permission in principle for housing, Walderslade, Maidstone Borough Council
✅ Change of use of land and buildings to offices in the Green Belt, Istead Rise, Gravesham Borough Council
✅ Appeal allowed for conversion of barn to dwelling in the Green Belt, Shorne, Gravesham Borough Council
✅ Appeal allowed with full costs award for formation of vehicular access, Gravesend, Gravesham Borough Council

For more information on any of these projects, please contact us:
📞 01474 703705
✉️ [email protected]
🌎 www.gsplanning.uk

The Government will be updating the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) – the guidance councils use when deciding ...
28/01/2026

The Government will be updating the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) – the guidance councils use when deciding planning applications.

What does that mean in real terms?

➡️Councils are under more pressure to approve new homes.
➡️Planning decisions now focus more on good design and need.
➡️Some proposals that were refused before may now be looked at differently.

If you’ve had planning refused, or you’re unsure whether your land or property has potential, it could be worth revisiting it. Please do not hesitate to get in touch using the information below.

📞 01474 703705
✉️ [email protected]
🌐 www.gsplanning.uk

Graham Simpkin Planning (GSP) has successfully argued the case for a domestic vehicular access in Gravesham, making it 5...
19/01/2026

Graham Simpkin Planning (GSP) has successfully argued the case for a domestic vehicular access in Gravesham, making it 5 appeal successes in a row for their ever-growing list of clients.

GSP also successfully argued that the Council should be required to pay the householder's costs in having to make the appeal having failed to conduct an objective and evidenced assessment of the impacts of the proposal as well as dismissing the merits of a recently allowed appeal for a similar development nearby (also a GSP appeal).

For more information on this project or if you are in need of reliable planning and architectural advice from consultants that have worked in the area for 40 years, please contact us:
📞 01474 703705
✉️ [email protected]
🌎 www.gsplanning.uk

Graham Simpkin Planning (GSP) has had another appeal allowed - it's 4th in a row and the 3rd involving windfall housing ...
06/01/2026

Graham Simpkin Planning (GSP) has had another appeal allowed - it's 4th in a row and the 3rd involving windfall housing in the Green Belt.

Located outside of the village of Shorne within Gravesham Borough Council (GBC), this proposal involved alterations and a small extension to a concrete framed barn to create a new dwelling, along with the demolition & removal of 9 structures, resulting in a 40% reduction in the volume of the built form.

The Planning Inspector ultimately considered that the new grey belt exception applied to this site (taking account of GBC's failure to deliver a sufficient amount of housing).

For more information on this project or if you are in need of sound planning and architectural advice from consultants that have worked in the area for 40 years, please contact us:
📞 01474 703705
✉️ [email protected]
🌎 www.gsplanning.uk

GSP NOVEMBER DECISION ROUNDUP✅ Domestic extensions, Meopham, Gravesham Borough Council✅ Enforcement appeal allowed at a ...
03/12/2025

GSP NOVEMBER DECISION ROUNDUP

✅ Domestic extensions, Meopham, Gravesham Borough Council
✅ Enforcement appeal allowed at a care home, Meopham, Gravesham Borough Council
✅ Appeal allowed for mixed use of land for keeping/exercising horses and residential, Sutton-at-Hone, Dartford Borough Council
✅ Variations to a permission for agricultural buildings, Southfleet, Dartford Borough Council
✅ Change of use of public house to residential, Farningham, Sevenoaks District Council

For more information on any of these projects, please contact us:
📞 01474 703705
✉️ [email protected]
🌎 www.gsplanning.uk

Graham Simpkin Planning (GSP) has had another appeal allowed - GSP's third in a row!This one, in Sutton-at-Hone, followe...
21/11/2025

Graham Simpkin Planning (GSP) has had another appeal allowed - GSP's third in a row!

This one, in Sutton-at-Hone, followed a refusal by Dartford Council's planners, and involved the addition of a mobile home and caravan to a Green Belt site already used lawfully for the keeping and exercising of horses. The mobile home and caravan are occupied by the owners of the stabled horses.

Further harms as claimed by the Council were not upheld by the Inspector. These included character and appearance, and suitability of the location. The Inspector also gave weight to the daily car trips that were otherwise likely to occur in connection with the site's lawful use concluding that the introduction of a residential use would not significantly increase the number of daily trips by car.

This is another positive conclusion to a retrospective matter, much to the delight of another of GSP's returning clients.

If you need any assistance with planning or enforcement matters, please contact us today to see if GSP can help:

📞 01474 703705
✉️ [email protected]
🌎 www.gsplanning.uk

Graham Simpkin Planning (GSP) has had an enforcement appeal allowed following the decision of Gravesham Borough Council ...
14/11/2025

Graham Simpkin Planning (GSP) has had an enforcement appeal allowed following the decision of Gravesham Borough Council to serve an enforcement notice for a single storey garden outbuilding of just 21 sqm as part of a care home just outside Meopham.

Resulting in a 1.9% increase in floor area the Inspector noted that the outbuilding has a 'very limited effect on the openness of the Green Belt' falling some way short of meeting the 'substantial impact' threshold.

Together with a lack of any planning harm, the outbuilding is difficult to spot in the included aerial photograph, suggesting this was not a proportionate response to a breach of planning control.

With the above in mind, if you need any assistance with enforcement matters (alongside planning or architectural matters), please contact us today to see if GSP can help:

📞 01474 703705
✉️ [email protected]
🌎 www.gsplanning.uk

Address

2 The Parade Ash Rd
Longfield
DA38BQ

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+441474703705

Website

https://www.linkedin.com/company/graham-simpkin-planning/, https://www.instagram.com/gsplanning.

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