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.

The Committee was informed that the applicant had now indicated that the development would achieve at least Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes.

Mr Kimmance, an objector, Mr Thomas, for the applicant, and Councillor Willis (Visiting Member) addressed the meeting.

RESOLVED: 

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

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

·  A contribution for Kent County Council of £4,000 per ‘applicable’ house and £1,000 per ‘applicable’ flat towards the build costs and £2,701.63 per ‘applicable’ house and £675.41 per ‘applicable’ flat towards land acquisition costs for a new primary school;

·  A contribution for Kent County Council of £2,359.80 per ‘applicable’ house and £589.95 per ‘applicable’ flat towards secondary school education;

·  A contribution for Kent County Council of £144.36 per dwelling to be used to address the demand from the development towards additional book stock and services at libraries local to the application site;

·  A contribution for Kent County Council 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 local to the application site;

·  A contribution for Kent County Council of £8.44 per dwelling to be used to address the demand from the development towards youth services through increased centre based youth services local to the application site;

·  A contribution for Kent County Council of £53.88 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 local to the development, including assistive technology and enhancement of local community facilities to ensure full DDA access;

·  A contribution for Maidstone Borough Council Parks and Open Space of £108,675 (based on £1,575 per dwelling) towards the improvement, refurbishment and maintenance of existing parks and open spaces local to the application site; and

·  A contribution of £29,408 towards highway improvements at the A26/Fountain Lane and A20/Coldharbour Lane,

the Head of Planning and Development be given delegated powers to grant permission subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the report, as amended by the urgent update report, with the amendment of condition 3 and an additional informative as follows:

Condition 3 (amended)

The dwellings shall achieve at least Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes.  No dwelling shall be occupied until a final Code Certificate has been issued for it certifying that a minimum of Code Level 4 has been achieved.

Reason:  To ensure a sustainable and energy efficient form of development.

Additional Informative

The applicant is advised that the details for the landscaping scheme are to be assessed in consultation with the Chairman and the Political Group Spokespersons of the Planning Committee and Ward Members, and will be reported back to the Planning Committee for determination.

2.  That it be noted that the issue of the provision of a footpath link across Barming Heath will be raised by Ward Members with the Parks and Open Spaces Team when discussing the use of the proposed S106 contribution.

Voting:  10 – For  2 – Against  1 – Abstention