Issue - meetings

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.

Mr Wilmott, for objectors, Councillor Clarke of Boxley Parish Council and Councillor Mrs Hinder (Visiting Member) addressed the meeting.

Contrary to the recommendation of the Head of Planning and Development, the Committee agreed to refuse permission.  In making this decision, Members felt that the development would cause an unacceptable impact upon the landscape character of the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the village by reasons of the loss of openness and change in character through the introduction of built form, domestic paraphernalia and lighting, both by day and night.  The development would particularly impact adversely upon the views from the west of the village and from the northern scarp slope of the Pilgrim’s Way. The development was therefore contrary to policies ENV28, ENV33 and ENV34 of the Maidstone Borough-Wide Local Plan 2000, policy SP17 of the final draft Maidstone Local Plan (2011 – 2031) and the aims of the National Planning Policy Framework.  In addition, the proposal would constitute an unsustainable form of development, being located where future occupiers would be reliant upon unsustainable modes of transport contrary to the aims of the National Planning Policy Framework.

RESOLVED:  That permission be refused for the following reasons:

1.  The development would cause an unacceptable impact upon the landscape character of the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the village by reasons of the loss of openness and change in character through the introduction of built form, domestic paraphernalia and lighting, both by day and night.  The development would particularly impact adversely upon the views from the west of the village and from the northern scarp slope of the Pilgrim’s Way. The development is therefore contrary to policies ENV28, ENV33 and ENV34 of the Maidstone Borough-Wide Local Plan 2000, policy SP17 of the final draft Maidstone Local Plan (2011 – 2031) and the aims of the National Planning Policy Framework.

2.  The proposal would constitute an unsustainable form of development, being located where future occupiers would be reliant upon unsustainable modes of transport contrary to the aims of the National Planning Policy Framework.

Voting:  11 – For  0 – Against  0 - Abstentions