Having declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest, Councillor Collins left the meeting whilst this application was discussed.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning.

RESOLVED:  That permission be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report and the following additional condition:-

Should any bats or evidence of bats using the buildings be found prior to or during works, works must stop immediately and Natural England must be contacted for further advice and a detailed scheme of mitigation measures should then be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority before works can proceed.  The development shall thereafter be undertaken in accordance with the approved mitigation measures.

Reason:  In order to protect biodiversity in accordance with policy NRM5 of the South East Plan 2009.

Voting:  12 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions