The Committee considered the report of the Head of Development Management.

In introducing the application, the Principal Planning Officer advised the Committee that he wished to:

·  Add an hours of use condition being 9-5pm Mon-Sat and 9-1pm Sundays.

·  Include reference to ‘Class E’ in condition 7.

·  Change condition 9 to be an informative.

·  Amend condition 10 to refer to the correct Regulations.

Mrs Davidson-Houston, an objector, and Mr Thompson, the applicant, addressed the meeting.

RESOLVED:

1.  That permission be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report, as amended by the Principal Planning Officer during his introduction of the application, with the amendment of condition 3 (Landscaping) to require a double-staggered native hedgerow across the front of the site with a management plan to ensure it grows and is maintained at a height that screens/softens views of the sales and parking areas.

2.  That delegated powers be given to the Head of Development Management to be able to settle or amend any necessary planning conditions in line with the matters set out in the recommendation and as resolved by the Planning Committee.

Voting:  10 – For  0 – Against  2 – Abstentions 

Note:  Having stated that he was a Member of the Staplehurst Parish Council Planning Committee when it considered this application, Councillor Riordan did not participate in the discussion or the voting.