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

In presenting the report, the Development Manager advised the Committee that he wished to add a condition requiring details of bin store provision and location to be submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority.

Mrs Rose, an objector, addressed the meeting.

Contrary to the recommendation of the Head of Planning and Development, the Committee agreed to refuse permission.  In making this decision, Members felt that the intensification of use of the building and its curtilage would result in significant harm to the character and amenity of the surrounding area by virtue of the fact that insufficient parking would be provided in an area already suffering from excessive parking stress and therefore would harm the amenity of the surrounding area by the coming and going of cars, contrary to policy DM9 of the Maidstone Borough Local Plan 2017.

RESOLVED:  That permission be refused for the following reason:

The intensification of use of the building and its curtilage would result in significant harm to the character and amenity of the surrounding area by virtue of the fact that insufficient parking would be provided in an area already suffering from excessive parking stress and therefore would harm the amenity of the surrounding area by the coming and going of cars, contrary to policy DM9 of the Maidstone Borough Local Plan 2017.

Voting:  7 – For  3 – Against  2 – Abstentions