Issue - meetings

All Members stated that they had been lobbied.

Councillor Mrs Stockell stated that she was the County Councillor for Coxheath.

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

Councillor Webb (Visiting Member) addressed the meeting in his capacity as both Ward Member (representing the parishes of Coxheath and East Farleigh which had made representations on the application) and Member/representative of Coxheath Parish Council (against).

RESOLVED:  That permission be granted subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the report, as amended by the urgent update reports, with the amendment of conditions 13 and 20 and an additional condition as follows:

Condition 13 (amended)

No development shall take place until full details of a landscaping and planting scheme comprising native and near native cultivars for all internal planting (excluding boundary planting) has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority and these works shall be carried out as approved before the commencement of the use or the occupation of any building hereby approved, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  The details shall include on a plan, full details of the size, species, spacing, quantities and location of proposed plants, together with any hard surfacing, means of enclosure, and indications of all existing trees, hedges and any other features to be retained, and measures for their protection during the course of development.  Any plants found to be dead, diseased or dying within a five year period following completion of the planting scheme shall be replaced with plants of an identical size and species.

Reason:  To ensure a satisfactory appearance to the development.

Condition 20 (amended)

Prior to first use of the site approved by this permission, the 2 passing bays shown on drawing 1117.02 Rev C alongside the carriageway on Forstal Lane shall be completed, surfaced, drained and adopted in accordance with a scheme secured through a S278 agreement with the Highways Authority.

Reason:  In the interests of highway safety.

Additional Condition

The development shall not commence until details of biodiversity enhancements that shall include bat tubes within the utility building hereby approved have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  The development shall be built in accordance with the approved details and all features shall be retained in that manner thereafter.

Reason:  In the interest of biodiversity protection.

Voting:  8 – For  2 – Against  3 - Abstentions

FURTHER RESOLVED:  That Maidstone Borough Council Parking Services be requested to consider the making of a Traffic Regulation Order to prevent parking in the passing bays to be provided alongside the carriageway on Forstal Lane.

Voting:  13 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions