Issue - meetings

All Members stated that they had been lobbied.

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

Mr Phipps, an objector, Councillor Mrs Buller of Staplehurst Parish Council (against), Mr Page, for the applicant, and Councillor Perry (Visiting Member) (against) addressed the meeting.

RESOLVED:  That subject to the prior completion of a S106 legal agreement in such terms as the Head of Legal Partnership may advise to secure the following:

A.  The provision of 40% affordable housing (equating to 100 dwellings) and the designation of at least 5 no. of the affordable units to provide wheelchair accessible homes;

B:  A contribution towards highway works at the junction of the A229 (Station Road) and Marden Road to mitigate the impact of the development (the amount to be finalised by the Head of Planning and Development acting under delegated powers);

C.  A contribution towards the improvement and enhancement of vehicle and cycle parking provision at the railway station development (the amount to be finalised by the Head of Planning and Development acting under delegated powers);

D.  The following contributions based on a pro rata assessment of the exact number of dwellings proposed at the reserved matters stage:

  A contribution for Kent County Council of £580,725.90 towards the construction of Phase 1 of the expansion of Headcorn Primary School (40.65 pupils from HDF @ £14,286 per pupil);

  A contribution for Kent County Council of £129,453.99 towards land acquisition costs in connection with the expansion of Headcorn Primary School (40.65 pupils from HDF @ £3,184.60 per pupil);

A contribution for Kent County Council of £487,888.65 for secondary education to be used towards the expansion of Cornwallis School (41 pupils @ £11,799 per pupil);

A contribution for Kent County Council of £12,003.95 to be used to address the demand from the development towards additional book stock at Staplehurst Library; and

A contribution for Kent County Council of £2,110.58 to be used to address the demand from the development for youth equipment (to be supplied to youth workers and organisations covering Staplehurst);

E.  The provision of on-site open space of not less than 4.66 hectares

(open space areas should be a mixture of formal and semi-natural areas and allotment areas);

A contribution of £613.02 per dwelling towards the improvement or upgrade of facilities at Lime Trees, Surrenden Playing Field; and

  The appointment of a management company by the developer to be responsible for the on-going maintenance of the public open space.

  The management company shall submit to and obtain the approval in writing of the Local Planning Authority to the details required under sub-sections E.1 and E.2 below:

E.1 - Prior to the commencement of development of each phase as agreed under condition 5 of this permission, an Ecological Design Strategy (EDS) addressing ecological mitigation and enhancement of each phase in the context of the wider site shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  The EDS shall include  ...  view the full minutes text for item 328