Issue - meetings

17/506612 - Gipps Oast, Pilgrims Way, Lenham, ME17 2EL

Meeting: 05/04/2018 - Planning Committee (Item 453)

453 17/506612 - ERECTION OF AN AGRICULTURAL BARN (PLOT 7) - GIPPS OAST, PILGRIMS WAY, LENHAM, KENT pdf icon PDF 153 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

 

Mr Smith, an objector, Councillor Walmsley of Lenham Parish Council, Mr Tamsett, for the applicant, and Councillor J Sams (Visiting Member) addressed the meeting.

 

Contrary to the recommendation of the Head of Planning and Development, the Committee agreed to refuse permission.  In making this decision, Members felt that the proposal would be harmful to the rural character and landscape of the locality by virtue of its scale and location in an area of high sensitivity within the countryside and Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which should be given great weight in conserving its landscape and scenic beauty.  Notwithstanding the economic benefits of the scheme, it was considered that the landscape harm outweighs those benefits.  Accordingly the proposal would be unacceptable and contrary to policies SP17, DM3, DM30, DM36 of the Maidstone Borough Local Plan and section 11 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

 

RESOLVED:  That permission be refused for the following reason:

 

The proposal would be harmful to the rural character and landscape of the locality by virtue of its scale and location in an area of high sensitivity within the countryside and Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which should be given great weight in conserving its landscape and scenic beauty.  Notwithstanding the economic benefits of the scheme, it is considered that the landscape harm outweighs those benefits.

Accordingly the proposal would be unacceptable and contrary to policies SP17, DM3, DM30, DM36 of the Maidstone Borough Local Plan and section 11 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

 

Voting:  7 - For  4 – Against  1 – Abstention

 

Councillor Harwood requested that his dissent be recorded.

 

Note:  Councillor Willis entered the meeting at 6.10 p.m., prior to the introduction of the application by the Major Projects Manager.