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

Councillor Hickmott of Otham Parish Council addressed the meeting in person.

Councillor Tribley of Bearsted Parish Council addressed the meeting remotely.

Mr Moore addressed the meeting in person on behalf of the applicant making reference to this application and application 21/503538/SUB (Submission of details to discharge four conditions attached by the Planning Inspector to the approval of application 19/506182/FULL; all relating to pedestrian and cycle links within and outside the site).

Councillor Harper (Visiting Member) addressed the meeting remotely on application 21/503538/SUB.

Councillor Newton (Visiting Member) addressed the meeting in person.

Contrary to the recommendation of the Head of Planning and Development, it was proposed and seconded that permission be refused for the following reasons:

The impact of construction traffic and from 100 dwellings, in advance of the approved Willington Street/Deringwood Drive junction improvement, would result in unacceptable and severe impacts upon highway safety conditions for pedestrians and cyclists crossing the existing junction, as considered by the Appeal Planning Inspector.  The junction is very well used by pedestrians and cyclists providing a link between major residential areas and Mote Park on national Cycle Route 17.  This would be contrary to policy DM21 of the Maidstone Borough Local Plan (2017), policies ST1 and ST2 of the Otham Parish Neighbourhood Plan (2020-2035), and Paragraphs 110 and 111 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

Prior to the vote being taken, the Head of Planning and Development advised the Committee that (a) he did not consider these grounds to be sustainable at appeal and (b) there was a risk of a significant award of costs against the Council.

The representative of the Interim Head of Legal Partnership explained that since the Head of Planning and Development believed that these grounds would not be sustainable at appeal and that there was a risk of a significant costs award against the Council, then, if the motion was agreed, the decision would be deferred until the next meeting of the Committee in line with the Council’s Constitution.

RESOLVED:  That permission be refused for the following reasons:

The impact of construction traffic and from 100 dwellings, in advance of the approved Willington Street/Deringwood Drive junction improvement, would result in unacceptable and severe impacts upon highway safety conditions for pedestrians and cyclists crossing the existing junction, as considered by the Appeal Planning Inspector.  The junction is very well used by pedestrians and cyclists providing a link between major residential areas and Mote Park on national Cycle Route 17.  This would be contrary to policy DM21 of the Maidstone Borough Local Plan (2017), policies ST1 and ST2 of the Otham Parish Neighbourhood Plan (2020-2035), and Paragraphs 110 and 111 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

Voting:  11 – For  0 – Against  1 – Abstention

Note:  Having stated that she had pre-determined this application, Councillor Springett did not participate in the discussion or the voting.

DECISION DEFERRED UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING