Agenda item

All Members except Councillors Ash and Edwards-Daem stated that they had been lobbied.

The Committee considered the report and the urgent update report of the Head of Planning and Development.  The representative of the Head of Planning and Development advised the Committee that he wished to amend proposed condition 9 by the deletion of the words “with managed public access” and to add a further informative to ensure that the reserved matters details do not include public access or footpaths within the ancient woodland buffer zone.

Mr Hicken, for the applicant, and Councillor Willis (Visiting Member) addressed the meeting.  Mr Hicken advised the Committee that the applicant was agreeable to the buffer between the proposed development and the ancient woodland being a minimum 30 metres in depth.

RESOLVED:

1.  That the Head of Planning and Development be given delegated powers to explore whether it would be appropriate for a S106 contribution to be sought for cycle lane provision.

2  That subject to the prior completion of a Section 106 legal agreement in such terms as the Head of Legal Services may advise to secure the following (amended to include a contribution for cycle lane provision if appropriate):

The provision of 40% affordable residential units within the application site;

A contribution of£4,000 per ‘applicable’ house and £1,000 per ‘applicable flat’ on the assumption that land will be transferred to Kent County Council for a nominal sum for the provision of a primary school on land to the east of Hermitage Lane.  Should this not be the case, to secure an additional £2,701.63 per ‘applicable’ house and £675 per ‘applicable’ flat (‘applicable’ meaning all dwellings, excluding 1 bed units of less than 56sqm GIA, and sheltered accommodation) towards the provision of a new primary school in west Maidstone;

A contribution of £140.89 per dwelling to be used to address the demand from the development towards additional book stock and services at Maidstone Library;

A contribution of £47.44 per dwelling to be used to address the demand from the development towards the provision of adult social care facilities within 3 miles of the application site;

A contribution of £30.70 per dwelling to be used to address the demand from the development towards the provision of new/expanded facilities and services both through dedicated adult education centres and through outreach community learning facilities within 3 miles of the application site;

A contribution of £8.44 per dwelling to be used to address the demand from the development towards youth services within 2 miles of the application site;

A contribution of £842.40 per open market dwelling towards extensions and works to Barming Surgery, Blackthorn Medical Centre, Aylesford Medical Practice and Allington Park Surgery;

A contribution of £1,737 per dwelling towards offsite highway improvement works to the A26/Fountain Lane and the A20/Coldharbour Lane junctions;

A contribution of £86 per dwelling for white lining and minor improvements to the M20 junction 5;

A contribution of £40,000 towards the provision and maintenance of open space at the old Oakwood Cemetery;

A contribution of £20,000 towards the improvement and maintenance of existing local sports facilities and pitches;

A contribution of £110,000 towards the improvement and maintenance of local equipped play areas at Barming Heath and Gatland Lane; and

The provision of a minimum of 25 on site standard allotment plots,

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 9 and additional informatives as follows:

Condition 9 (amended)

No development shall take place until an ecological design strategy (EDS) addressing the mitigation for impacts to the ancient woodland and ecological enhancements of the site, including the provision of a minimum 30m undeveloped ancient woodland buffer and the retention of the hedgerow on the south west boundary of the site, has been submitted to, and approved in writing by, the Local Planning Authority.  The EDS shall include the following:

Purpose and conservation objectives for the proposed works;

Review of site potential and constraints;

Detailed design(s) and/or working method(s) to achieve stated objectives;

Extent and location/area of proposed works on appropriate scale maps and plans;

Type and source of materials to be used e.g. native species of local provenance;

Timetable for implementation demonstrating that works are aligned with the proposed phasing of development;

Persons responsible for implementing the works;

Details of initial aftercare and long-term maintenance; and

Details for monitoring and remedial measures. 

The EDS shall be implemented in accordance with the approved details and all features shall be retained in that manner thereafter. 

Reason:  To safeguard and improve natural habitats and features within the site and to mitigate against the loss of natural habitats, with particular reference to those species protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Additional Informatives

The applicant is advised to ensure that parking space is provided within the site for all vehicles associated with the construction of the development including operatives and delivery vehicles and that no parking should take place on Hermitage Lane.

The reserved matters detail should not include public access or footpaths within the ancient woodland buffer zone.

Voting:  11 – For  0 – Against  2 – Abstentions