Agenda item

16/503863 - CONSTRUCTION OF A CLASS A1 RETAIL FOODSTORE AND ASSOCIATED SERVICING, PARKING, LANDSCAPING AND ACCESS ARRANGEMENTS - PLOT 9, ECLIPSE PARK, SITTINGBOURNE ROAD, MAIDSTONE, KENT

Minutes:

All Members stated that they had been lobbied.

 

The Committee considered the report and the urgent update report of the Head of Planning and Development together with the letter which had been received earlier during the day from Gallagher Properties Ltd. regarding the content of the proposed S106 legal agreement relating to mitigation at the Mid-Kent Shopping Centre in Allington.

 

Mrs Davidson addressed the meeting on behalf of the applicant.

 

During the discussion on the application, it became apparent that the urgent update report circulated at the meeting was not the correct version which was published on-line and referred to by the Major Developments Officer in his presentation.  However, as soon as the error came to light at the meeting, it was remedied by the Major Developments Officer.

 

RESOLVED:

 

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

 

·  A financial contribution of £60,000 to assess the opportunities for improving town centre public transport links to the site;

 

·  The provision of a Travel Plan, to include the costs associated with the monitoring thereof; and

 

·  The mitigation of any adverse impact that may occur on the Mid-Kent Shopping Centre in Allington should the existing Waitrose store at the Mid-Kent Shopping Centre close (the Head of Planning and Development be given delegated powers to finalise the details),

 

the Head of Planning and Development be given delegated powers to grant permission subject to (a) referral of the application to the Secretary of State under the Town and Country Planning (Consultation) (England) Direction 2009 and (b) the conditions set out in the report with the amendment of conditions 5 (Landscaping) and 22 (Bus Stop Provision) and an additional condition 23 (Materials to be Used for the “Prow” Feature) as per the published urgent update as follows:

 

Condition 5 (amended)

 

The development shall not be constructed above damp proof course level until there has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority a scheme of landscaping, using species which shall include indications of all existing trees and hedgerows on the land, and details of any to be retained, together with measures for their protection in the course of development (and long term management of the landscaping). The development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved landscaping scheme unless the Local Planning Authority gives its prior written consent to any proposed variation.

 

The landscape scheme shall be designed using the principles established in the Council's adopted Landscape Character Assessment and Landscape Guidelines and provide for the following:

 

a)  High quality detailed and structural landscaping;

b)  Retention and enhancement of boundary vegetation unless otherwise specified (excluding the openings required for access points);

c)  Means of enclosure including the positions, design, materials and type of boundary treatment to be erected;

d)  Proposed finished levels and contours;

e)  Car parking layouts;

f)  Other vehicle and pedestrian access and circulation areas;

g)  Hard surfacing materials;

h)  Written planting specifications;

i)  Schedules of plants (noting species, plant sizes and proposed numbers/densities in all cases);

j)  Minor artefacts and structures - including street furniture, refuse or other storage units, signs, lighting etc. including their long term management and maintenance;

k)  Implementation programme setting out timing for completion of the various parts of the hard and soft landscaping works; and

l)  Tree trench detail.

 

  The works shall be carried out strictly in accordance with the approved details prior to first occupation of the building.

 

Reason:  To ensure a satisfactory external appearance and setting for the development.

 

Condition 22 (amended)

 

Details of bus stop provision and associated public transport improvements shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority and shall include westbound and eastbound bus stops, including passenger waiting areas and realtime information systems, on Bearsted Road, and provision for a bus stop within Eclipse Park.  The resulting approved bus stop provision shall be implemented in accordance with those approved details prior to first occupation of the building.

 

Reason:  In the interest of sustainable transport.

 

Additional Condition 23

 

Materials proposed to be used for the ‘prow’ feature shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  The resulting development shall be implemented in accordance with those approved details prior to first occupation of the building.

 

Reason:  To ensure a satisfactory external appearance.

 

2.  That the Head of Planning and Development be given delegated powers to explore, as part of condition 5 (Landscaping), whether the TPO trees which are proposed to be removed can be transplanted.

 

3.  That a “development monitoring committee” be established prior to the submission of the first application to discharge conditions pursuant to the decision notice to be responsible for the review of all aspects of the conditions associated with the development, with such members to include an Officer of the Borough Council, Councillors Greer, Cox, Harwood, Hemsley, and Hastie (representing Boxley, East and North Wards), a representative of Boxley Parish Council and a representative of the developers.

 

Voting:  10 – For  1 – Against  0 – Abstentions

 

Supporting documents: