Issue - decisions

1.  That the site allocation policies set out in the Core Strategy Strategic Site Allocations: Public Consultation 2012 document (as attached at Appendix A to the report of the Director of Change, Planning and the Environment) with the exclusion of SS3 be approved for public consultation subject to the following amendments:-

East of Hermitage Lane

1.  After paragraph 3.16 add new paragraph: “East of Hermitage Lane lies, in part, within an identified biodiversity opportunity area (BOA).  The Greensand Heaths and Commons BOA, in which the north eastern portion of the site is located, is characterised by a concentration of woodlands on the Greensand Ridge where areas of heathy vegetation and acid grassland are a feature. The larger field, which is proposed for development, has been ploughed on a number of occasions, although opportunities exist for targeted habitat restoration and creation as part of the development.”

2.  Delete paragraph 3.17 and replace with: “At the south western end of the site is a smaller field with an area of protected trees to the north east. The field and trees, which are to be retained as informal/natural open space, offer the chance to create an enhanced biodiversity corridor through and around the proposed development.  Retention of the smaller field also allows a section of archaeological remains to be left in situ, as advised by the County Archaeologist.  The retention and enhancement of this part of the site will also screen the proposed development from Hermitage Lane and maintain the setting of Maidstone Hospital.”

North of Sutton Road

3.  Paragraph 4.10 following “and enclosure to development” add: “The County Ecologist has identified the eastern part of the site as having ecological potential so more detailed consideration should be given to this area through the submission of an ecology survey, incorporating mitigation measures, to be approved by the Borough Council.  Existing landscape features within the site should be retained where possible.  Bicknor Wood to the north of the site and the trees running along the eastern boundary are subject to tree preservation orders (TPO No.37 of 1981 and TPO No.36 of 1981).”

4.  Policy SS2c add new criterion: “Submission of a full landscape assessment and ecology survey, to be approved by the Borough Council”.

Newnham Park

5.  Paragraph 6.10 after “views from the AONB” add: “Of particular prominence is the hill to the north east of the field located to the east of the stream, so development will not be permitted on this part of the site.”

6.  Paragraph 6.15 amend to read “The medical campus will provide for up to 200,000m² 150,000m²  of specialist medical facilities”.

7.  Policy SS4(1) amend to read “Provision of a maximum 200,000m² of specialist medical facilities set within an enhanced landscape structure” and replace with “Provision of a maximum 200,000m² 150,000m² of specialist medical facilities set within an enhanced landscape structure”.

8.  Policy SS4(2) before the word “vicinity” add the word “immeadiate”.

9.  Policy SS4(5) after “…use of the topography in site layout plans …” add: “to exclude development on more prominent parts of the site.”

10.  Policy SS4(7) amend to read “The cumulative quantum of retail floorspace will be restricted to the provision of up to 500sqm above that which already exists and any additional retail floorspace above this limit must be complementary to town centre uses and the need for, by means of a sequential sites assessment, demonstrably require an out of town location justified.

11.  Paragraph 6.16 after the first sentence insert the following: ”As confirmed in Core Strategy policies CS1 And CS2, the regeneration and revitalisation of Maidstone’s  town centre is a priority and the town centre will continue to be the primary retail and office location in the borough.”

2.   That the strategic employment location identified around J8 of the M20 motorway is further considered by being included in the public consultation referred to in 1 above, to enable a more informed decision to be made on the allocation of strategic site(s) at this location and that the consultation should make clear the Council’s requirement that any strategic sites already identified to the Council at this location, in response to the advertisement of 11 May 2012, and included in the Sustainability Appraisal, or further promoted as a result of this consultation, should be accompanied by development proposals that respond to the relevant planning considerations, particularly landscape, ecology and highways and include evidence of dialogue with the public and their response.

3.  That policy NPPF1: Presumption in favour of sustainable development set out in the Core Strategy Strategic Site Allocations: Public Consultation 2012 document (as attached at Appendix A to the report of the Director of Change, Planning and the Environment) be approved for public consultation.

4  That the inclusion of dwelling targets for rural service centres in the Core Strategy, and that the targets set out in the Core Strategy Strategic Site Allocations: Public Consultation 2012 document (as attached at Appendix A to the report of the Director of Change, Planning and the Environment) be approved for public consultation:

5.  That it be noted that the Maidstone Strategic Site Allocations Sustainability Appraisal July 2012 (Appendix C to the report of the Director of Change, Planning and the Environment) forms part of the evidence base; and requests that the consultants (URS) be asked to provide a summary of the significant environmental effects of the options chosen and the reasonable alternatives rejected, as set out in the Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004, Schedule 2.

6  That, subject to the viability testing of strategic site allocations and Core Strategy policies, the prioritisation of planning obligations agreed in 2006 be reviewed and final decisions reflected in the Core Strategy policy on infrastructure delivery.