MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL
Planning Committee
MINUTES OF THE ADJOURNED MEETING HELD ON
11 february 2016
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Present:
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Councillor English (Chairman) and Councillors Butler, Clark, Cox, Hemsley, Paterson and Round |
268. Apologies for Absence
It was noted that apologies for absence had been received from Councillors Ash, Harwood, Munford, Paine and Perry.
269. Notification of Substitute Members
It was noted that Councillor Butler was substituting for Councillor Ash.
270. Notification of Visiting Members
There were no Visiting Members.
271. Items withdrawn from the Agenda
There were none.
272. Urgent Items
The Chairman stated that, in his opinion, the update reports of the Head of Planning and Development should be taken as urgent items as they contained further information relating to the applications to be considered at the meeting.
273. Disclosures by Members and Officers
There were no disclosures by Members or Officers.
274. Exempt Items
RESOLVED: That the items on the agenda be taken in public as proposed.
275. 15/507194 - CONSTRUCTION OF A DETACHED HOUSE AND A PAIR OF SEMI-DETACHED HOUSES WITH ASSOCIATED PARKING - LAND ADJ ULCOMBE C OF E PRIMARY SCHOOL, THE STREET, ULCOMBE, KENT
All Members except Councillors Butler and Paterson stated that they had been lobbied.
The Committee considered the report and the urgent update reports of the Head of Planning and Development.
Mr Rogers, an objector, and Councillor Titchener of Ulcombe Parish Council (against) addressed the meeting.
RESOLVED: That consideration of this application be deferred to enable the Officers to request further guidance from the Highways Officer in relation to the adequacy of the vehicle access to the houses in terms of highway safety and the potential conflict with drivers and pedestrians using the adjacent school.
Voting: 6 – For 0 - Against 0 – Abstentions
Note: Councillor Clark entered the meeting following consideration of this application (6.30 p.m.).
276. 15/508307 - ERECTION OF 4 DWELLINGS AND RELOCATION OF ACCESS TO BUILDER'S YARD - EYHORNE GREEN, MUSKET LANE, HOLLINGBOURNE, KENT
Councillor Round stated that he had been lobbied.
The Committee considered the report and the urgent update report of the Head of Planning and Development.
Mr Snowdon, an objector, Councillor Bennett of Hollingbourne Parish Council (against) and Mr Baty, for the applicant, addressed the meeting.
Contrary to the recommendation of the Head of Planning and Development, the Committee agreed to refuse permission. In making this decision, Members felt that the proposals represented an overdevelopment of the site resulting in an overly urban appearance and resultant loss of landscaping that would be out of character and harmful to the street scene and Conservation Area contrary to policies ENV6 and ENV34 of the Maidstone Borough-Wide Local Plan 2000 and the NPPF.
RESOLVED: That permission be refused for the following reason:
The proposals represent an overdevelopment of the site resulting in an overly urban appearance and resultant loss of landscaping that would be out of character and harmful to the street scene and Conservation Area contrary to policies ENV6 and ENV34 of the Maidstone Borough-Wide Local Plan 2000 and the NPPF.
Voting: 7 – For 0 – Against 0 - Abstentions
277. 15/508348 - CHANGE OF USE OF AN EXISTING FARM BUILDING TO PROVIDE 3 NO. RESIDENTIAL DWELLINGS WITH ASSOCIATED PARKING, ACCESS, LANDSCAPING AND INFRASTRUCTURE WORKS ON THE LAND AT HOCKERS FARM - HOCKERS FARM, HOCKERS LANE, DETLING, KENT
The Committee considered the report and the urgent update reports of the Head of Planning and Development.
Councillor Bowie of Detling Parish Council (against) and Mr Collins, for the applicant, addressed the meeting.
Contrary to the recommendation of the Head of Planning and Development, the Committee agreed to refuse permission. In making this decision, Members felt that the proposed development would result in harm to the character and appearance of the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Special Landscape Area and open countryside by reason of the change of use to residential and domestication of the site and encroachment into the open countryside which would be contrary to policies ENV28, ENV33, ENV34 and ENV45 of the Maidstone Borough-Wide Local Plan 2000 and the NPPF.
RESOLVED: That permission be refused for the following reason:
The proposed development would result in harm to the character and appearance of the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Special Landscape Area and open countryside by reason of the change of use to residential and domestication of the site and encroachment into the open countryside which would be contrary to policies ENV28, ENV33, ENV34 and ENV45 of the Maidstone Borough-Wide Local Plan 2000 and the NPPF.
Voting: 7 – For 0 – Against 0 – Abstentions
278. 15/509547 - OUTLINE APPLICATION FOR ERECTION OF 3 STOREY BUILDING CONTAINING 8 FLATS, AND ACCESS TO CAR PARK WITH 6 CAR SPACES, BIN AND CYCLE STORES TO INCLUDE ACCESS, APPEARANCE, LAYOUT AND SCALE WITH ALL OTHER MATTERS RESERVED - REAR OF REGAL HOUSE, 11-13 ALBION PLACE, MAIDSTONE, KENT
The Chairman and Councillors Clark, Cox and Round stated that they had been lobbied.
The Committee considered the report and the urgent update report of the Head of Planning and Development.
Mr Newton, an objector, addressed the meeting.
During the discussion on this application, Councillor Round stated that he was one of the Council’s representatives on the Upper Medway Internal Drainage Board whose offices were situated at 17 Albion Place. Since the Board had not objected to the application and was unlikely to be affected financially by the development, Councillor Round indicated that he would continue to participate in the discussion and the voting on the application.
RESOLVED: That outline permission be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report as amended by the urgent update report.
Voting: 4 – For 3 – Against 0 – Abstentions
279. Appeal Decisions
The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning and Development setting out details of appeal decisions received since the last meeting.
RESOLVED: That the report be noted.
280. Chairman's Announcements
There were no Chairman’s announcements on this occasion.
281. Duration of Meeting
6.00 p.m. to 8.25 p.m.