Venue: Council Chamber, Town Hall, Royal Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1RS. View directions
Contact: Democratic Services Team
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Chairman's Introduction PDF 90 KB Announcement on procedural matters. Additional documents: Minutes: The Chairman opened the meeting, introduced Committee members and officers in attendance, and outlined procedural matters of the meeting. |
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Apologies for absence as reported at the meeting.
Additional documents: Minutes: Apologies were received from Councillors Funnell, Goodship and Patterson. |
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Declarations of Interest PDF 66 KB To receive any declarations of interest by Members in items on the agenda.
Additional documents: Minutes: Councillor Atwood declared an interest in application 21/00848/FULL Breakstones, Speldhurst Road, LangtonGreen, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN3 0JL owing to having a direct relation to applicant.
Councillor Hills declared an interest in application 21/00848/FULL as well as he is a close personal friend of the applicant. |
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If a Member has been lobbied in connection with any application on the agenda, this should be declared at the start of the meeting, whether by, or in support of, the applicant or objectors.
Members in doubt about such a declaration are advised to contact the Legal Services Manager/Monitoring Officer before the date of the meeting.
Additional documents: Minutes: Councillors Atwood, Fitzsimmons, Dr Hall, Hills, Poile, Pope, Pound, Backhouse and Bland advised that they had been lobbied by supporters on application PLA/21/00797/FULL Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, The Tunbridge Wells Hospital, Tonbridge Road, Pembury, Tunbridge Wells,Kent, TN2 4QJ.
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Notification of Persons Wishing To Speak PDF 30 KB Additional documents: Minutes: Details of Members and members of the public who have registered to speak will be given under the respective planning applications. |
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To note the application sites visited, as recorded at the meeting. Additional documents: Minutes: Due to the current restrictions Members had not undertaken any site visits. |
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Minutes of the meeting dated 12 May 2021 PDF 225 KB Additional documents: Minutes: Members reviewed the minutes. No amendments were proposed.
RESOLVED – The minutes of the meeting dated 12 May 2021 be recorded as a correct record. |
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Minutes of the meeting dated 2 June 2021 PDF 166 KB Additional documents: Minutes: Members reviewed the minutes. No amendments were proposed.
RESOLVED – The minutes of the meeting dated 2 June 2021 be recorded as a correct record. |
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Reports of Head of Planning Services (attached) PDF 28 KB The running order of the applications listed below is subject to change and will be agreed by the Chairman and announced at the meeting. Additional documents: |
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Additional documents:
Minutes: Planning Report and Presentation – The Head of Planning Services submitted a report in respect of application PLA/21/00797/FULL Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHSTrust, The Tunbridge Wells Hospital, Tonbridge Road, Pembury, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 4QJ and this was summarised at the meeting by Antonia James, Principal Planning Officer and illustrated by means of a visual presentation.
Updates and additional representation – Representation received from the Parish Council – the Parish noted the changes to trees on site and comments from the Tree Officer but objected to parking stating that there were parking issues on residential roads in the village already.
Registered Speakers – There was one speaker registered in accordance with the Council’s Constitution (Planning Committee Procedure Rules)
Applicant · Mr Doug Ward
Matters of Clarification by Officers and Committee Members’ Questions to Officers – Members raised a number of questions and officers confirmed the following: · Regarding mitigation of tree loss, there was a substantial loss of trees where the building would be sited but the building had been designed to mitigate this (size of footprint). The officer showed landscape/biodiversity enhancement plan which showed significant areas of planting including new tree planting. The applicant had tried hard to mitigate tree loss and increased biodiversity. There were no objections from the Landscape and Biodiversity Officer. · There was a Grade II listed chapel located on the opposite side of the hospital site which was separated from the site by existing development, including car parking. Changes in topography also provided separation/screening. There were no objections from the Conservation Officer. · Student learning was primarily based in Tunbridge Wells but some learning might be in Maidstone. · Regarding parking enforcement, The NHS trust would undertake enforcement. A lot of student accommodation was car free. Upon registration, students would have to submit details of car ownership and sign an agreement. Disciplinary action would be taken on those having a car on site who were not permitted to. A detailed travel plan would be monitored and reviewed, residents could therefore contact the hospital if there were any issues. They could also raise the issue with Kent Highway Services and TWBC Parking Services Team. Residents parking permits might also be introduced if required. · There were double yellow lines along the Tonbridge Road in close proximity to the hospital, which would prohibit students from parking in this location. · Localised impact on landscape – although the proposal would result in substantial loss of trees, the tree losses were localised and only visible within the site. The land fell away in a south easterly direction and the building was subservient to the main hospital building. Public Right of Way to the north of the site which was some distance from the proposed building and separated by existing woodland and the adjacent car park so any views of site would be very minimal. New planting would also act as screening from the south east. · Should Policy TP6 of the Local Plan be ignored? For such a substantive development to have no parking ... view the full minutes text for item PLA23/21 |
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Additional documents: Minutes: Planning Report and Presentation – The Head of Planning Services submitted a report in respect of application PLA21/00848/FULL Breakstones, Speldhurst Road, Langton Green, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN3 0JL and this was summarised at the meeting by Peter Hockney, Senior Planning Officer and illustrated by means of a visual presentation.
Updates and additional representation – None.
Registered Speakers – There were no speakers that registered in accordance with the Council’s Constitution (Planning Committee Procedure Rules)
Matters of Clarification by Officers and Committee Members’ Questions to Officers – Members raised a number of questions and officers confirmed the following: · The officer advised the reason for the application was because the new fence was over the 2 metre limit allowed in normal permitted development. The additional 40cm height request was to allow for better privacy. · The area of fence was along a single boundary which was not visible elsewhere. The Conservation Officer supported the application. Neither properties were listed but there were some heritage assets to the properties which were formally farmsteads. · There was concern raised by the Parish Council that it may set a precedent for other properties to put in similar requests. · Regarding the fence height and the precedent this would give, it was unlikely the fence would be continued around the rest of the boundary. However, an application would be required for any future request.
Committee Debate and Officer Reponses – Members of the Committee took account of the presentations made and raised a number of questions and issues within their discussions. These included: · It was accepted the proposed fence was required for privacy reasons. The current fence was dilapidated and the new proposal had been agreed by the neighbours. · More greenery could be incorporated with part trellis on the fence and it would have been preferable to incorporate some greenery into the screening rather than raise the height of the fence.
Decision/voting – On the basis that members were satisfied that all relevant planning considerations had been covered within the report, a motion was proposed by Councillor Backhouse and seconded by Councillor Dr Hall and a vote was taken to approve the application in line with the officer recommendation.
RESOLVED – That application PLA21/00848/FULL Breakstones, Speldhurst Road, Langton Green be granted subject to the plans, conditions and informatives as set out in the agenda report. |
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Appeal Decisions for Noting 22/05/2021 to 14/06/2021 PDF 71 KB Additional documents: Minutes: None. |
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To consider any other items which the Chairman decides are urgent, for the reasons to be stated, in accordance with Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972.
Additional documents: Minutes: There was no urgent business for consideration. |
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Date of Next Meeting PDF 28 KB The next Planning Committee was scheduled for Wednesday 21st July 2021. Additional documents: Minutes: The next Planning Committee meeting was scheduled for Wednesday 21st July 2021. |