Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Jeffery, Russell and D Wilkinson.

The following Substitute Members were noted:

Councillor Cooper for Councillor Russell

Councillor Eagle for Councillor Jeffery

There were no Visiting Members.

23/501716/FULL - CHANGE OF USE OF AGRICULTURAL LAND TO RESIDENTIAL LAND AND ERECTION OF 1NO. DWELLING WITH ASSOCIATED PARKING, LANDSCAPING AND AMENITY AREA, INCLUDING PART DEMOLITION OF EXISTING UNAUTHORISED STRUCTURE (PART RETROSPECTIVE) (RE-SUBMISSION OF 22/504298/FULL) - CHERRY BARN, OLD TREE LANE, BOUGHTON MONCHELSEA, KENT

The Head of Development Management sought the agreement of the Committee to the withdrawal of application 23/501716/FULL from the agenda as there were a number of issues that the Officers needed to reconsider which were fundamental to its determination.

RESOLVED:  That agreement be given to the withdrawal of application 23/501716/FULL from the agenda.

The Chairman said that he intended to take the update reports of the Head of Development Management and the verbal updates in the Officer presentations as urgent items as they contained further information relating to the applications to be considered at the meeting.

There were no disclosures by Members or Officers.

The following disclosures of lobbying were noted:

RESOLVED:  That the items on the agenda be taken in public as proposed.

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

RESOLVED:

1.  That permission be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report with the amendment of condition 4 (i)(e) (Waste and Refuse Strategy) to ensure that it covers both trade waste and litter arisings from customers.

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:  11 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

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

When introducing the application, the Principal Planning Officer advised the Committee that KCC Ecology had now withdrawn its objection to the scheme on ecology grounds and was satisfied that the design of the lighting would keep light spillage outside the site to a minimum and would not impact on any of the woodland or pond or any other area of ecological value in the vicinity.

The Democratic Services Officer read out a statement on behalf of Ms Tipples who objected to the application.

Councillor Ash of Staplehurst Parish Council and Ms Easton, for the applicant, addressed the meeting.

During the discussion, Councillor Perry stated that he was a Member of Staplehurst Parish Council.  However, he had not participated in the Parish Council’s discussions on the application and intended to speak and vote when it was considered.

RESOLVED:

1.  That permission be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report, as amended by the urgent update report, with:

   An additional condition requiring the submission of a landscaping scheme for the written approval of the Local Planning Authority and a landscaping implementation condition.  The landscaping scheme shall comprise native shrub planting between the building, lighting and large pond in the southeast corner of the site.

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:  11 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

23/500773/FULL - Section 73 - Application for minor material amendment to approved plans condition 2 (to allow amendments to the design and layout including rebuilding of 2 bays to Palace Avenue, omission of external boardwalk, first floor car park, 9 terraces to second floor and green roof of top roof level) and variation of conditions 3 (programme of archaeological work); 5 (contamination risks); 7 (commercial use of ground floor); 9 (materials); 10 (constructional details); 14 (roof treatments), 16 (EV charging facilities);  17 (hard landscape works); 24 (enhancement of biodiversity); 25 (LEMP); 31 (boardwalk and Mill Street forecourt), 34 (ground floor commercial space), 35 (external plant), 37 (travel plan) and 40 (sustainable surface water drainage scheme) pursuant to 20/501029/FULL (as amended by 23/500477/NMAMD) for - Restoration of Len House and associated new build works to provide a mixed-use development comprising: (i) Retention with alterations and change of use of Len House to provide flexible commercial floorspace within the following uses - retail, financial and professional, cafe or restaurant, drinking establishment, offices, clinic or health centre, crèche or day nursery, gymnasium or indoor recreational purposes uses (within classes - E, F2(a) & Sui Generis of the Town & Country Planning uses Classes Order). (ii) Provision of 22 residential apartments (C3) at first floor by conversion and erection of part rear first floor extension and provision of 58 No. residential apartments (C3) in two storey roof extension with rooftop amenity space, together with ancillary car parking. (iii) construction of two new buildings of up to 5-storeys to provide 79 No. residential apartments (C3) with amenity space. (iv) Provision of associated car parking, open space, landscaping, earthworks including demolition of hardstanding and structures, de-culverting the River Len and reutilisation of existing vehicular access points from Mill Street and Palace Avenue

AND

23/500769/LBC - Listed Building Consent for restoration of Len House, rebuilding of 2 bays to Palace Avenue and associated new build works to provide a mixed-use development comprising: (i) Retention with alterations and change of use of Len House to provide commercial floorspace within the following uses - retail, financial and professional, cafe or restaurant, drinking establishment, offices, clinic or health centre, creche, or day nursery, gymnasium or indoor recreational purposes uses (within classes E, F2(a) and Sui Generis) at ground floor. (ii) Provision of 22 No. residential apartments (class C3) at first floor by conversion and erection of a part rear first floor extension and provision of 58 No. residential apartments (class C3) in a two-storey roof extension with rooftop amenity space (iii) Associated landscaping to roof (Revised scheme to 20/501030/LBC)

The Committee considered the report, urgent update report and additional urgent update report of the Head of Development Management.

In introducing the applications, the Principal Planning Officer advised the Committee that:

·  There had been further consultation responses.  Southern Water Services and the Environment Agency had both reiterated their previous comments.  KCC Drainage Authority had commented that the flood risk assessment was now out of date (April 2020), and they would wish to see  ...  view the full minutes text for item 153.

See Minute 146 above.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Development Management setting out details of appeal decisions received since the last meeting.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

6.00 p.m. to 7.15 p.m.