Issue - meetings
19/501775/FULL - Stocketts, (also Known As The Spice Lounge), 118 Heath Road, Coxheath,
Meeting: 28/11/2019 - Planning Committee (Item 138)
Additional documents:
- 19/501775/FULL - Committee Report, item 138
PDF 253 KB
- 19501775FULL_urgent update, item 138
PDF 798 KB
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.
Councillor Wilson of Coxheath Parish Council, Mrs Simpkin, for the applicant, and Councillor Webb (Visiting Member) addressed the meeting.
The Chairman read out a statement on behalf of Councillor Parfitt-Reid, a Ward Member for Coxheath and Hunton and a Member of the Planning Committee, who had called in the application for consideration by the Committee but was unable to attend the meeting. It was noted that Councillor Parfitt-Reid objected to the proposal on the basis that it would result in the loss of an important community asset and assertions that the restaurant is no longer viable needed to be supported by proper evidence. The proposal did not overcome the previous reason for refusal and would be incongruous and out of scale in its setting. The proposed block would be closer to Heath Road and adversely affected by road traffic. Further, there was no shortage of assisted living accommodation for elderly people in Coxheath.
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 by virtue of its scale, mass and design, proximity to Heath Road/lack of setback, the proposal will have an overbearing and harmful impact upon the character and appearance of the street scene contrary to Policies SP11, DM1, DM2 and DM12 of the Maidstone Borough Local Plan 2017. The Committee also considered that the loss of an existing community facility within an area with limited alternative facilities will harm the existing and future character, function and sustainability of Coxheath as a larger village contrary to Policies SP11, SP13, DM17 and DM20 of the Maidstone Borough Local Plan 2017 and the National Planning Policy Framework.
RESOLVED:
1. That permission be refused for the following reasons:
By virtue of its scale, mass and design, proximity to Heath Road/lack of setback, the proposal will have an overbearing and harmful impact upon the character and appearance of the street scene contrary to Policies SP11, DM1, DM2 and DM12 of the Maidstone Borough Local Plan 2017.
The loss of an existing community facility within an area with limited alternative facilities will harm the existing and future character, function and sustainability of Coxheath as a larger village contrary to Policies SP11, SP13, DM17 and DM20 of the Maidstone Borough Local Plan 2017 and the National Planning Policy Framework.
2. That the applicant be advised of the Council’s concerns regarding the failure of the application to make provision for renewable energy generation in the development to accord with the provisions of the National Planning Policy Framework.
Voting: 10 – For 0 – Against 0 – Abstentions