Chris Hawkins, Principal Planning Officer, said that he knew the agent for the applicant, but he was not the Case Officer and their acquaintance had no bearing on the determination of the application.

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

Mr Hadley, agent for the applicant, addressed the meeting.

RESOLVED:  That subject to the prior completion of a S106 legal agreement in such terms as the Head of Legal Services may advise to secure the following:

·  The provision of a minimum of 40% affordable housing;

·  A contribution for Kent County Council of £1,389/applicable flat (excludes 1-bed flats of less than 56m²) and £5,559.96/dwelling towards build costs and £675.41/applicable flat and £2,701.63/dwelling towards land acquisition costs for the provision of a primary school;

·  A contribution for Kent County Council of £589.95/applicable flat and £2,359.80/dwelling towards the extension of existing local secondary schools to cater for the additional demand for places arising from this development;

·  A contribution for Kent County Council of £181.96/dwelling for the provision of additional book stock at Shepway Library and the Kent History and Library Centre;

·  A contribution for Kent County Council of £28.71/dwelling for Maidstone Adult Education Centre and outreach community learning facilities;

·  An Adult Social Services contribution of £46.31/dwelling for Kent County Council to be used with Integrated Dementia Care, Co-location with Health in Maidstone, The Changing Place facility and also Assistive Technology (Telecare); and

·  A contribution of £360 per person multiplied by the predicted occupancy once final dwelling numbers and unit sizes are known for NHS Property Services towards improvements to primary care infrastructure atLockmeadow surgery (Tonbridge Road), Loose (Boughton Lane), Blackthorn Medical Practice (Tonbridge Road/St Andrews Road), Brewer Street surgery and Stockett Lane surgery (Coxheath),

the Head of Planning and Development be given delegated powers to grant outline permission subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the report with the amendment of condition 2 and additional informatives as follows:

Condition 2 (amended to include)

(vii) A physical barrier between the residential areas and the wooded slopes. 

Additional Informatives

To deliver a good quality of life for future residents a high standard of design and landscape led layout which respects the site topography will be required.

The development should seek to achieve an appropriate mix of housing to help meet local need, which should include family homes.

Voting:  12 – For  0 – Against  0 - Abstentions