Agenda item

Erection of a modular building comprising 12no. self-contained apartments for use as temporary housing accommodation, including associated landscaping, refuse / cycle store, parking and office.

As the application has been submitted by the Borough Council’s Central Services Department, the application is required to be determined by Full Council in line with the adopted Constitution.

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Planning, Housing and Regulatory Services which sought planning permission for the erection of a three-storey residential building comprising 12 two-bedroom units to be used as temporary housing accommodation.

The proposal would help address the increasing demand for temporary accommodation which the authority had a statutory duty to provide.

Due regard was given to the principle of development, national and local planning policies, the visual impact, design and layout, residential amenity, highways and parking, ecology and trees and a number of other factors detailed in the report.  The views of consultees were also taken into account. Members attention was drawn to an amended Condition 3 as detailed in the supplementary report which corrected the terms in respect of operational arrangements.

As the application did not propose permanent residential accommodation, Kent County Council was not seeking its regular developer contributions towards education, community services and adult social care.  Similarly, it was not appropriate to seek open space or NHS contributions.

Concerns regarding the intended occupants of the temporary accommodation were addressed and it was clarified that this was strictly for local residents made homeless at short notice.  Members were reassured that risk assessments to determine suitability would be undertaken before accommodation was allocated and that site management would be in place to reduce the risk of anti-social behaviour.

In addition, Members sought clarification on accessing local facilities without transport,  drainage, water and sewerage infrastructure.  In response, it was confirmed that a shared walking and cycleway provided access to facilities, and that the site shared mains water and sewage connections with the neighbouring dental practice.

Overall,  it was concluded that there would be no adverse impacts of granting planning permission that would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits that the development would bring when assessed against the policies in the National Planning Policy Framework taken as a whole.  In addition, the development would deliver 12 high-quality units of accommodation on previously developed land, directly intended to address the Borough Council’s statutory duties under the Housing Act 1996 and Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.

In recognition of the severe and growing shortage of suitable temporary accommodation and with demand consistently exceeding the supply within the borough, Cllr Davis proposed, Cllr Dalton seconded and Council

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 Regulatory Services, subject to:

(1)            Amended Condition 3:

The development hereby approved shall only be used as temporary residential accommodation with occupation of each individual unit limited to households to whom the Council owe homelessness duties under the Housing Act 1996, and for no other purpose within Class C3 of Part C of the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 (as amended) (or any equivalent class in any order that may replace it).

Reason: Any change to permanent residential occupation may result in the requirement for appropriate developer contributions to be sought.

[Speakers:  Representative of Zed Pods]