Agenda item

All Members except Councillor Paterson stated that they had been lobbied.

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

Mr Witts, an objector, Councillor Mannington of Marden Parish Council (against), Mr Court, for the applicant, and Councillors McLoughlin and Burton (Visiting Members) addressed the meeting.

RESOLVED:

1.  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:    

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

A contribution of £2,360.96 per ‘applicable’ house and £590.24 per applicable flat (‘applicable’ meaning all dwellings, excluding 1 bed units of less than 56sqm GIA, and sheltered accommodation specifically for the elderly) towards the build costs of extending Marden Primary School;

A contribution of £2,359.80 per ‘applicable’ house and £589.95 per applicable flat towards the extension of secondary school buildings which, based on current trends, are currently used by residents of Marden;

A contribution of £100.79 per dwelling to be used to address the demand from the development towards additional book stock and services at Marden Library;

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 £18.05 per dwelling to address the demand from the development for adult social services to be used towards the provision of new/expanded facilities and services both on site and within 3 miles of the development, including assistive technology and enhancement of local community facilities to ensure full DDA access;

A contribution of £46,332 to be prioritised firstly towards healthcare facilities at the Marden Medical Centre, then Staplehurst Medical Centre, and then Lamberhurst Medical Centre; and

A contribution of up to £17,793.05 towards improvements at Marden railway station;

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, as amended by the urgent update report, and the additional condition set out in the urgent update report with the amendment of the additional condition set out in the urgent update report and an additional condition and additional informatives as follows:

Additional Condition within Urgent Update (amended)

No occupation of the development hereby permitted shall take place until full details of the following works have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority in consultation with the Highway Authority:

1.  Measures to improve the bus waiting area in Plain Road;

2.  Bus stop improvements within the High Street, to provide raised bus boarders;

3.  Upgrading of the existing zebra crossing to a puffin crossing on Goudhurst Road;

4.  The provision of a new pedestrian crossing on Church Green close to its junction with the access to Marden Station; and

5.  Extension of the 30mph speed limit on Albion Road to include the junction of Plain Road and to extend into Plain Road past the proposed site access.

The approved details shall be provided under a Section 278 Agreement prior to the commencement of the development.

Reason:  In the interests of highway safety.

Additional Condition

Prior to construction of any impermeable surfaces on the site, details of suitable attenuation drainage ditches shall be submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority.  The development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.

Reason:  In the interests of sustainable drainage.

Additional Informatives

All construction traffic associated with this development, including operatives’ vehicles, should be accommodated within the site.

All construction and operatives’ traffic should use Plain Road for access to and from the development site and suitable signage should be erected to ensure this.

Wheelwashing facilities should be provided prior to commencement of work on site and for the duration of construction.

2.  That an Implementation Committee should be established comprising the developer, Maidstone Borough Council Officers, the local Ward Members and a representative of the Parish Council to oversee the implementation of this development.

Voting:  8 – For  2 – Against  2 - Abstentions

FURTHER RESOLVED:  That the delegation to the Head of Planning and Development to determine any reserved matters application pursuant to this application be withdrawn and that any application for approval of the reserved matters must be reported to the Planning Committee.

Voting:  11 – For  0 – Against  1 – Abstention