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.