Agenda item

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

Mr Beech, an objector, and Councillor Roome of Boughton Monchelsea Parish Council addressed the meeting remotely.

Mr Latham addressed the meeting in person on behalf of the applicant.

Contrary to the recommendation of the Head of Planning and Development, the Committee agreed to refuse permission.  In making this decision, the Committee considered that:

The proposal will result in an intensification and loss of open space between buildings at the focal point northern end of Loddington Lane and would result in clear harm to the functioning of the Conservation Area.  The proposed built form and layout is uncharacteristic of and undermines the openness and rhythm and distinctly rural nature of this part of the Greensand Ridge.

The proposed parking court covering the width of the rear of the site would introduce a jarring and urbanising feature immediately adjacent to a designated Historic Park and Garden (Linton Park) which causes harm to its character and the Conservation Area.

The proposal would result in ribbon development compromising important open spaces and views through the existing developed area causing harm to the character and appearance of the countryside hereabouts.

The proposed car parking court will divorce the application site from the adjacent woodland and result in a negative impact upon local biodiversity by virtue of habitat fragmentation and disturbance.

The proposal would result in an unneighbourly form of development which will have an overpowering and unneighbourly form of development principally on Rose Cottage.

The Development Manager requested that delegated powers be given to the Head of Planning and Development to structure the relevant Local Plan and Neighbourhood Plan policies within the reasons for refusal, including policies RH1, PWP4, RH6 and RH8 of the Boughton Monchelsea Neighbourhood Plan and policies SS1, SP17, SP18, DM1 and DM4 of the Maidstone Borough Local Plan 2017.

RESOLVED:

1.  That permission be refused for the following reasons:

The proposal will result in an intensification and loss of open space between buildings at the focal point northern end of Loddington Lane and would result in clear harm to the functioning of the Conservation Area.  The proposed built form and layout is uncharacteristic of and undermines the openness and rhythm and distinctly rural nature of this part of the Greensand Ridge.

The proposed parking court covering the width of the rear of the site would introduce a jarring and urbanising feature immediately adjacent to a designated Historic Park and Garden (Linton Park) which causes harm to its character and the Conservation Area.

The proposal would result in ribbon development compromising important open spaces and views through the existing developed area causing harm to the character and appearance of the countryside hereabouts.

The proposed car parking court will divorce the application site from the adjacent woodland and result in a negative impact upon local biodiversity by virtue of habitat fragmentation and disturbance.

The proposal would result in an unneighbourly form of development which will have an overpowering and unneighbourly form of development principally on Rose Cottage.

2.  That delegated powers be given to the Head of Planning and Development to structure the relevant Local Plan and Neighbourhood Plan policies within the reasons for refusal, including policies RH1, PWP4, RH6 and RH8 of the Boughton Monchelsea Neighbourhood Plan and policies SS1, SP17, SP18, DM1 and DM4 of the Maidstone Borough Local Plan 2017.

Voting:  12 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

Note:  The meeting was adjourned for ten minutes to enable Members to formulate the wording of the proposed reasons for refusal in consultation with the Development Manager.