Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest made in accordance with the Code of Conduct.  However, for reasons of transparency, Councillor M Balfour reminded the Committee that he was the Cabinet Member for Planning, Highways, Transport and Waste at Kent County Council.  As this did not represent either an Other Significant Interest or a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest there was no requirement to withdraw from the meeting.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of Area 2 Planning Committee held on 24 May 2017

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting of the Area 2 Planning Committee held on 24 May 2017 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Introduction and Glossary

Decisions were taken on the following applications subject to the pre-requisites, informatives, conditions or reasons for refusal set out in the report of the Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health or in the variations indicated below.  Any supplementary reports were tabled at the meeting.

Members of the public addressed the meeting where the required notice had been given and their comments were taken into account by the Committee when determining the application.  Speakers are listed under the relevant planning application shown below. 

Outline Application including details of access: New access road from the East side of Platt Industrial Estate, through Nepicar sandpit to join the A25 Maidstone Road at Nepicar Sand Quarry, Maidstone Road, Platt.

The Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health advised that information recently submitted by the Applicant’s Agent required further clarification and that the Application had been withdrawn from the Agenda. 

Creation of new vehicular access, with entrance gates, to orchard and woodland at Land at Long Wood off Crouch Lane, Borough Green.

RESOLVED:  That planning permission be granted in accordance with the submitted details, conditions, reasons and informatives set out in the report and the supplementary report of the Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health, subject to the addition of conditions 7 and 8 as follows:

Conditions

7        There shall be no hardstanding on the site (other than the tarmac crossover detailed in drawing 22 rev D hereby approved) unless it is constructed in accordance with details that have first been submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority.

Reason: No such details have been submitted and in the interests of the rural character and tree protection.

8        The site shall be used only for the temporary parking of vehicles required for the maintenance of the associated woodland under Title K736930. There shall be no buildings, cabins, caravans or chattels of any kind stationed on the land and no open storage unconnected to forestry except in accordance with details that have that have first been submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority. 

          Reason: In the interests of the openness of the Green Belt and rural character.

[Speakers:  Mrs P Darby, Platt Parish Council; Mr E Wigley, member of the public and Mr K Baillie, Applicant]

Demolition of existing outbuildings, erection of 3 bed detached dwelling with associated parking and landscaping at 3 St Hildas, Plaxtol.

RESOLVED: That planning permission be REFUSED for the following reason:

1        The proposed development, by virtue of the scale, siting, bulk and general form would result in a development of the site that is out of keeping within the street scene and the prevailing character of the area to the detriment of the visual amenities of the locality, contrary to paragraphs 56, 57 and 58 of the National Planning Policy Framework, and policies CP13 and CP24 of the Tonbridge and Malling Borough Core Strategy 2007.

[Speakers:  Mr M Carboni of Plaxtol Parish Council, Mrs A Ferguson and Mrs M From – members of the public, and Ms E Gregson – Agent for the Applicant]

The Chairman to move that the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting during consideration of any items the publication of which would disclose exempt information.

There were no items considered in private.