The Committee considered the report and the urgent update report of the Head of Planning and Development.

The Chairman read out statements on behalf of Ms Norris, for objectors, and Councillor Titchener of Ulcombe Parish Council.

The Committee considered that the development causes significant landscape harm contrary to policies SP17 and DM15 of the Maidstone Borough Local Plan 2017 and that this would normally warrant a refusal.  However, the exceptional needs of the applicant’s children were given very significant weight, and on that basis a personal and temporary permission of three years was granted subject to conditions.

RESOLVED:

1. That a personal and temporary permission of three years be granted subject to conditions which must include a landscaping condition similar to that imposed by the Planning Inspector on the wider site requiring, inter alia, the close boarded fencing to be moved to allow room for additional native species hedgerow planting (no Laurels or Sycamores).

2. That the Head of Planning and Development be given delegated powers to finalise the conditions.

Voting:  11 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

Note:  Councillor Parfitt-Reid did not participate in the voting on this application due to connectivity issues.