Issue - meetings

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

Mr Lord, an objector, and Councillor Milton of Harrietsham Parish Council (against) addressed the meeting.

RESOLVED:

1.  That permission be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report, as amended by the urgent update report, and the additional condition set out in the urgent update report with the amendment of conditions 1 and 4 and an additional condition and informative as follows:

Condition 1 (amended)

This permission does not authorise the use of the land as a caravan site by any persons other than gypsies, as defined in the Planning Policy for Traveller Sites (2012).

Reason:  The site is in an area where the stationing of caravans/mobile homes is not normally permitted and an exception has been made to provide accommodation solely for gypsies who satisfy these requirements pursuant to Planning Policy for Traveller Sites (2012).  This is in accordance with policy ENV28 of the Maidstone Borough-Wide Local Plan 2000.

Condition 4 (amended)

All planting, seeding or turfing comprised in the approved details of landscaping (condition 3) shall be carried out in the first planting and seeding seasons following approval of said details (October 2015 and February 2016).  Any trees or plants which, within a period of 5 years from the completion of the development, die, are removed, or become seriously damaged or diseased shall be replaced in the next planting season with others of similar size and species.

Reason:  In the interest of visual amenity of the area.

Additional Condition

The piggery building, including base and sub-structure, on the site shall be demolished and all the resulting materials removed from the land prior to the occupation of the additional static caravan/mobile home hereby permitted.

Reason:  In the interest of visual amenity.

Informative

  The applicant is advised to work with the Landscape Officer to ensure that the landscaping is implemented in the next planting season.  The Officers have been requested to report back to the Planning Committee with details of compliance with the landscaping condition.

2.  That the Officers should work with the applicant to ensure that the landscaping is completed in the next planting season and report progress on this back to the Planning Committee.

Voting:  8 – For  4 – Against  0 – Abstentions

Note:  Councillor Harwood left the meeting after consideration of this application (10.05 p.m.).