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

Mr Van Diepen, an objector, Councillor Taylor of Harrietsham Parish Council (against) and Councillor Barned addressed the meeting.

RESOLVED:

1.  That subject to the expiry of the site notice and advertisement publicising the application as a Departure from the Development Plan and the receipt of no representations raising new issues, the Head of Planning be given delegated powers to grant variation of condition 2 of permission MA/03/2343 as follows:-

All accommodation units (excluding the 19 caravans previously permitted for permanent residential use) permitted at the site shall be occupied for holiday purposes only.  No such accommodation shall be occupied as a person’s sole or main place of residence.  The operators of the caravan park shall maintain an up-to-date register of the names of all owners/occupiers of individual accommodation units on the site, and of their main home addresses, and shall make this information available at all reasonable times to the Local Planning Authority.

Reason:  In order to ensure proper control of the use of the holiday units and to prevent the establishment of permanent residency, which would be contrary to national and local plan policy discouraging the proliferation of new dwellings in the countryside and in accordance with policy ENV28 of the Maidstone Borough-Wide Local Plan 2000 and PPS7.

2.  That the informative set out in the urgent update report be attached to the consent.

Voting:  10 – For  1 – Against  2 – Abstentions