Issue - meetings

All Members except Councillors Harwood, Paterson and J A Wilson stated that they had been lobbied.

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

Councillor Buller of Staplehurst Parish Council (against) and Mr Blythin, for the applicant, addressed the meeting.

Contrary to the recommendation of the Head of Planning and Development, and the advice of the Development Manager that the third proposed reason for refusal would not be sustainable at appeal, the Committee agreed to refuse permission.  In making this decision Members felt that:

The development was poorly located in terms of access to services and future occupants would be heavily reliant on the private car.  The proposals would therefore constitute unsustainable development contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework;

The proposals would introduce a development of a scale and intensity that would be out of character with the pattern of residential development in the locality and which would be harmful to the character and appearance of the area contrary to policy ENV28 of the Maidstone Borough-Wide Local Plan 2000 and the National Planning Policy Framework; and

The development would result in the loss of an employment site which provides sustainable employment for the rural area.  Its loss would be contrary to the aims of the National Planning Policy Framework to promote retention of local services.

RESOLVED:  That permission be refused for the following reasons:

1.  The development is poorly located in terms of access to services and future occupants would be heavily reliant on the private car.  The proposals would therefore constitute unsustainable development contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework.

2.  The proposals would introduce a development of a scale and intensity that would be out of character with the pattern of residential development in the locality and which would be harmful to the character and appearance of the area contrary to policy ENV28 of the Maidstone Borough-Wide Local Plan 2000 and the National Planning Policy Framework.

3.  The development would result in the loss of an employment site which provides sustainable employment for the rural area.  Its loss would be contrary to the aims of the National Planning Policy Framework to promote retention of local services.

Voting:  12 – for  1 – Against  0 – Abstentions