Issue - meetings

19/500305/FULL River Wood

Meeting: 24/10/2019 - Planning Committee (Item 121)

121 19/500305/FULL - CHANGE OF USE OF LAND FOR THE ERECTION OF 6 NO. ONE-BEDROOM TOURIST LODGES - RIVER WOOD, CHEGWORTH LANE, HARRIETSHAM, KENT pdf icon PDF 222 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

All Members stated that they had been lobbied.

 

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning and Development.

 

In presenting the application, the Major Projects Manager advised the Committee that he wished to add a further condition to any planning consent requiring full details of the proposed foul drainage system to be submitted prior to first occupation of the tourist lodges to ensure that it is adequate in its capacity and that there is an appropriate maintenance regime in place to mitigate the future risk of inappropriate leakage towards the Local Wildlife site.

 

Councillor Powell, an objector, and Councillor Dean of Harrietsham Parish Council 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 considered that:

 

The proposal represented an incongruous form of development contrary to the objectives of the Len Valley Local Landscape designation as identified within the Maidstone Landscape Character Assessment;

 

The proposed development by virtue of the activity of visitors, noise and disturbance and external lighting would have a harmful impact upon the biodiversity value of the area, in particular the adjacent woodland and designated Local Wildlife Site; and

 

The proposed development by virtue of noise and disturbance and air quality issues would provide poor quality of accommodation and amenity for future occupiers.

 

RESOLVED:  That permission be refused for the following reasons:

 

1.  The proposed development, including security fencing, access and parking infrastructure, external lighting and other domestic accoutrements, would represent an incongruous form of development and cause harm to the character and appearance of the countryside and the Len Valley Landscape of Local Value contrary to policies SS1, SP17, DM30 and DM38 of the Maidstone Borough Local Plan 2017.

 

2.  The proposed development by virtue of the activity of visitors, noise and disturbance and external lighting would have a harmful impact upon the biodiversity value of the area, in particular the adjacent woodland and designated Local Wildlife Site contrary to policies DM3 and DM8 of the Maidstone Borough Local Plan 2017.

 

3.  The proposed development by virtue of noise and disturbance and air quality issues would provide poor quality of accommodation and amenity for future occupiers contrary to policies DM1 and DM6 of the Maidstone Borough Local Plan 2017.

 

Voting:  11 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions