Agenda and draft minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no Substitute Members.

Councillor Clark was present as a Visiting Member for item 13 (23/503752/FULL – Linton Growing, Land at Burford Farm, Redwall Lane, Linton, Maidstone, Kent).

Councillors Clark, Kehily and Parfitt-Reid were present as Visiting Members for item 15 (23/505091/HYBRID – Greensand Place, Heath Road, Linton, Kent).

Councillor Forecast was present as a Visiting Member for items 16 (22/502027/FULL – Land North of 351 Hermitage Lane, Maidstone, Kent) and 17 (24/501383/ADJ – Land East of Kiln Barn Road and West of Hermitage Lane, Maidstone, Kent).

Councillor D Naghi was present as a Visiting Member for item 17 (24/501383/ADJ – Land East of Kiln Barn Road and West of Hermitage Lane, Maidstone, Kent).

Councillor J Sams was present as a Visiting Member for item 18 (23/504443/FULL – Land at Oakland Place, Greenway Forstal, Harrietsham, Kent).

There were none.

The Chairman stated that he intended to take the update reports of the Head of Development Management and any verbal updates as urgent items as they contained further information relating to the applications to be considered at the meeting.

With regard to item 13 (23/503752/FULL – Linton Growing, Land at Burford Farm, Redwall Lane, Linton, Maidstone, Kent), Councillor Summersgill stated that since he had been involved in representations on this application as a Hunton Parish Councillor and as the Parish Flood Warden, he would address the Committee and then withdraw from the meeting without participating in the discussion or the voting.

Councillor Riordan stated that he was a Member of Staplehurst Parish Council.  However, he had not participated in the Parish Council’s discussions on items 14 (24/500914/FULL – Land at Woodside Place, Goudhurst Road, Staplehurst, Kent) and 19 (23/505361/FULL – Iden Manor Nursing Home, Cranbrook Road, Staplehurst, Tonbridge, Kent) and intended to speak and vote when they were considered.

Councillor Riordan also disclosed an interest in item 15 (23/505091/HYBRID – Greensand Place, Heath Road, Linton, Kent) and stated that he would not participate in the discussion or the voting on the application.

The following disclosures of lobbying were noted:

RESOLVED:  That all items on the agenda be taken in public as proposed.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 23 May 2024 be approved as a correct record and signed.

There were no petitions.

23/503671/FULL – DEMOLITION OF EXISTING HOUSE AND OUTBUILDING. ERECTION OF 2 NO. DWELLINGS INCLUDING EXTENSION OF EXISTING CROSSOVER AND ASSOCIATED PARKING - MONTROSE, SUTTON ROAD, LANGLEY, MAIDSTONE, KENT

23/504552/FULL - DEMOLITION OF EXISTING BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES AND ERECTION OF A MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT COMPRISING 217NO. RESIDENTIAL DWELLINGS AND 1,863.5SQM OF COMMERCIAL FLOORSPACE (COMPRISING FLEXIBLE E USE CLASSES) COMPRISING BLOCK A (6-7 STOREYS), BLOCK B (8-9 STOREYS), BLOCK C & D (7-8 STOREYS), BLOCK E (3 STOREYS), PUBLIC REALM WORKS (SANDLING ROAD FRONTAGE AND PUBLIC PIAZZA), CAR AND CYCLE PARKING, LANDSCAPING, INFRASTRUCTURE (INTERNAL ROADS), EARTHWORKS, AND ANCILLARY WORKS (SUB-STATIONS AND GENERATOR) - FORMER ROYAL MAIL SORTING OFFICE, SANDLING ROAD, MAIDSTONE, KENT

23/503025/FULL - CHANGE OhF USE OF EXISTING CARE HOME TO 11NO. RESIDENTIAL APARTMENTS, INCLUDING ERECTION OF 2NO. FIRST FLOOR EXTENSIONS, AN ADDITIONAL REAR DORMER, ALTERATIONS TO FENESTRATION, AND ASSOCIATED PARKING, LANDSCAPING, AMENITY SPACE AND SECURE BIN/CYCLE STORAGE - THE VALE NURSING HOME, 191 WILLINGTON STREET, MAIDSTONE, KENT

The Head of Development Management advised Members that negotiations were continuing in respect of all of the deferred items.  A Member briefing had been arranged to take place next month in relation to the Council’s application 23/504552/FULL (Former Royal Mail Sorting Office, Sandling Road, Maidstone, Kent).

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

Prior to the detailed introduction of the application by the Principal Planning Officer, the Head of Development Management provided a strategic overview of the proposed development including:

·  The national and local planning policy context.

·  The current unmet need for all the proposed uses.

·  The visual impact of the proposed development which could be reasonably well-mitigated in landscape terms by new tree, shrub and woodland planting.

·  The impact on residential amenity.

·  The sustainability of the location.

·  The benefits associated with the scheme including a modern replacement hospice and the enhancement of the existing crossing on Heath Road to a zebra crossing with a reduction in the speed limit from 40mph to 30mph with potential traffic calming measures.

·  The use of S106 and CIL monies for improvements to Linton Crossroads.

Mrs Batt, an objector, Councillor Cresswell of Linton Parish Council, Ms Street of the Heart of Kent Hospice (co-applicant) and Councillors Clark, Kehily and Parfitt-Reid (Visiting Members) addressed the meeting.

During the ensuing discussion the Head of Development Management advised the Committee that as there was still some ambiguity, he wished to amend the recommendation to seek delegated powers in consultation with the local Ward Members and the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Planning Committee to agree the position of the proposed zebra crossing, the specification of the measures to ensure that 30mph speeds are achieved and the associated traffic calming works.

RESOLVED: 

1.  That subject to:

  A.  No representations that raise new material planning matters being received in response to the consultation on the amended description of the application to include related off-site S278 highway works to Heath Road;

  B.  No objections being received from Kent County Council on the highway works required for a controlled crossing on Heath Road and an associated speed limit reduction to 30mph;

  C.  The prior completion of a legal agreement in such terms as the Head of Legal Partnership may advise to secure the Heads of Terms set out in the report, amended as appropriate to maximise the provision of social rent housing for the retirement units, and the prior payment of monitoring fees of £1,759.50 for the first obligation and £879.75 for each additional planning obligation; and

  D.  The conditions and informatives set out in the report, as amended by the urgent update report,

the Head of Development Management be given delegated powers to grant permission and to be able to settle or amend any necessary Heads of Terms, planning conditions and/or informatives in line with the matters set out in the recommendation and as resolved by the Planning Committee.

2.  That delegated powers be given to the Head of Development Management in consultation with the local Ward Members and the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Planning Committee to agree the position of the proposed zebra crossing, the specification of the measures to ensure that 30mph speeds are achieved and the associated traffic calming works.

Voting:  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40.

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

In introducing the application, the Senior Planning Officer advised the Committee that she wished to amend condition 2 (Plans) to addexisting land levels plans.

Having stated that he had been involved in representations on this application as a Hunton Parish Councillor and as the Parish Flood Warden, Councillor Summersgill addressed the Committee and then withdrew from the meeting.

Councillor Cresswell of Linton Parish Council, Councillor Heaton of Hunton Parish Council, Councillor Clark (Visiting Member) and Ms Watts (agent for the applicant) addressed the meeting.

RESOLVED:

1.  That permission be granted subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the report, as amended by the urgent update report and by the Senior Planning Officer at the meeting, with the amendment of conditions 7, 8 and 14 (Landscaping) to require the planting to be in place before works are carried out.

2.  That the Head of Development Management be given delegated powers to be able to settle or amend any necessary planning conditions and or informatives in line with the matters set out in the recommendation and as resolved by the Planning Committee.

Voting:  12 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

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

Councillor Roots of Harrietsham Parish Council and Councillor J Sams (Visiting Member) addressed the meeting.

RESOLVED:

1.  That permission be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report with (a) the amendment of conditions 7 (Site Development Scheme) and 8 (Landscaping) to require native hedgerow planting in the first planting season to screen the site and fencing and (b) the amendment of condition 7 (Site Development Scheme) to minimise the amount of hardstanding.

2.  That the Head of Development Management be given delegated powers to be able to settle or amend any necessary planning conditions and/or informatives in line with the matters set out in the recommendation and as resolved by the Planning Committee.

Voting:  11 – For  1 – Against  1 – Abstention

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

Councillor Sharp of Staplehurst Parish Council addressed the meeting.

RESOLVED:

1.  That permission be granted subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the report.

2.  That the Head of Development Management be given delegated powers to be able to settle or amend any necessary planning conditions and/or informatives in line with the matters set out in the recommendation and as resolved by the Planning Committee.

Voting:  12 – For  0 – Against  1 – Abstention

Note:  Councillor Harwood left the meeting after consideration of this application.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Development Management.

Mr Reynolds, an objector, Councillor Sharp of Staplehurst Parish Council, and Ms Jackson, agent for the applicant, addressed the meeting.

RESOLVED:  That subject to:

A.  The prior completion of a legal agreement in such terms as the Head of Legal Partnership may advise to secure the Heads of Terms set out in the report and the payment of a bespoke fee to be agreed for monitoring in years 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 from first occupation of the development; and

B.  The conditions and informatives set out in the report with:

The amendment of condition 6 (Materials) to specify that the materials shall be in keeping with the existing building;

  The amendment of condition 14 (External Lighting) to require motion sensor lights;

  The amendment of condition 12 (Surface Water Drainage) to require the drainage scheme to be designed to reduce the risk of flooding to neighbouring properties; and

  The addition of an informative to remind the applicant that the proposed development shall not impede the operation of other business users of the driveway.

the Head of Development Management be given delegated powers to grant permission and to be able to settle or amend any necessary Heads of Terms, planning conditions and/or informatives in line with the matters set out in the recommendation and as resolved by the Planning Committee.

Voting:  12 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Development Management.

Mr Wilford, agent for the applicant, and Councillor Forecast (Visiting Member) addressed the meeting.

The recommendation of the Head of Development Management that permission be granted subject to conditions was voted upon but was not carried.

The Committee then discussed grounds to refuse the application as set out below, but no vote was taken:

The proposed development within Maidstone Borough would result in significant harm to the rural character and appearance of the area contrary to policy LPRSP9 of the Maidstone Local Plan Review.

See Minute *** below.

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

Councillor Coulling of Teston Parish Council (neighbouring Parish) and Councillors Forecast and D Naghi (Visiting Members) addressed the meeting.

RESOLVED:

1.  That objections be raised for the reasons set out in the report with additional comments on the following matters:

  The need to secure a minimum 20% biodiversity net gain for the residential development;

  The scheme should deliver a community woodland;

  The need for measures to provide for and promote cycling;

  The access west of Kiln Barn Road must be a bus/active travel route only; and

  The need for measures to ensure no development creep further westwards.

2.  That the Head of Development Management be given delegated powers to be able to settle or amend any objections/comments in line with the matters set out in the recommendation and as resolved by the Planning Committee.

Voting:  12 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

Prior to 10.30 p.m., the Committee considered whether to adjourn at 10.30 p.m. or to continue until 11.00 p.m. if necessary.

RESOLVED:  That the meeting continue until 11.00 p.m. if necessary.

Rolled over to the adjourned meeting on 27 June 2024.

Rolled over to the adjourned meeting on 27 June 2024.

Rolled over to the adjourned meeting on 27 June 2024.

Rolled over to the adjourned meeting on 27 June 2024.

Rolled over to the adjourned meeting on 27 June 2024.

Rolled over to the adjourned meeting to be held on 27 June 2024.

Rolled over to the adjourned meeting on 27 June 2024.

Rolled over to the adjourned meeting to be held on 27 June 2024.

Rolled over to the adjourned meeting to be held on 27 June 2024.

Rolled over to the adjourned meeting to be held on 27 June 2024.

6.00 p.m. to 10.35 p.m.