Agenda and minutes

Members are reminded of their obligation under the Council’s Code of Conduct to disclose any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests and Other Significant Interests in any matter(s) to be considered or being considered at the meeting. These are explained in the Code of Conduct on the Council’s website at Code of conduct for members – Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council (tmbc.gov.uk).

Members in any doubt about such declarations are advised to contact Legal or Democratic Services in advance of the meeting

There were no declarations of interest made in accordance with the Code of Conduct.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of Area 3 Planning Committee held on 10 November 2022.

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting of the Area 3 Planning Committee held on 10 November 2022 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Glossary of abbreviations used in reports to the Area Planning Committee (attached for information)

Any supplementary matters will be circulated via report in advance of the meeting and published to the website.

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: A later living community comprising up to 250 age-restricted dwellings (Class C3), up to 191 extra care houses and apartments (Class C2) with associated community facilities within a central hub building, an 80 bed care home (Class C2), a new facility for the local Scouts and parking, associated green infrastructure including landscaping, public open space, allotments, biodiversity enhancements and associated accesses to Rochester Road and Bull Lane.

Development Site Southern part of former Aylesford Quarry, Rochester Road Aylesford

Outline Application: A later living community comprising up to 250 age-restricted dwellings (Class C3), up to 191 extra care houses and apartments (Class C2) with associated community facilities within a central hub building, an 80 bed care home (Class C2), a new facility for the local Scouts and parking, associated green infrastructure including landscaping, public open space, allotments, biodiversity enhancements and associated accesses to Rochester Road and Bull Lane.

There was detailed discussion on the S106 contributions where members expressed concern regarding the prioritisation of residents with local connections in the consideration of applications for affordable housing to be provided by the proposed development and felt that a Local Lettings Plan would be beneficial.

RESOLVED:  That planning permission be GRANTED in accordance with the submitted details, conditions, reasons and informatives set out in the report of the Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health subject to:

(1)          The applicant entering into a planning obligation with the Borough Council to provide on-site affordable housing and contributions towards off-site provision, and contributions towards healthcare provision;

(2)          The applicant entering into a planning obligation with Kent County Council to make financial contributions towards public transport provision, adult education facilities, monitoring of the travel plan, libraries and community services;

The section 106 agreement should be agreed in principle within 3 month and the legalities completed within 6 months of the committee resolution unless there are good reasons for the delay.  Should the agreement under Section 106 of the Act not be completed and signed by all relevant parties by 20 October 2023, a report back to the Area 3 Planning Committee will be made either updating on progress and making a further recommendation or in the alternative the application may be refused under powers delegated to the Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health who will determine the specific reasons for refusal in consultation with the Chair and Ward Members;

(3)          The potential negotiation for a Local Lettings Plan in respect of prioritisation of residents with local connections in the consideration of applications for elements of the affordable housing to be pursued in consultation with the Borough Council and the applicant.  The Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health to be given delegated authority, in consultation with the Chair and Ward Members, to agree the Local Lettings Plan if negotiations between the Borough Council and applicant were successful;

(4)          Additional Conditions:

33.       With the submission of each phase, a biodiversity gain plan shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority.  The biodiversity gain plan shall include the following:

•       A review and where necessary an update of the Defra Biodiversity Metric 3.1 submitted as part of TM/22/01909/OA (Aspect Ecology (February 2023) Supplementary Ecology Information), demonstrating the site will achieve a biodiversity net gain;

•       Biodiversity net gain calculations for the site based upon an ecological baseline that takes into consideration the approved restoration scheme, protected and priority species and habitats recorded within baseline data collected for the outline  ...  view the full minutes text for item AP3 23/4

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.