Agenda and minutes

Announcement on procedural matters.

The Chairman opened the meeting, introduced Committee members and officers in attendance, and outlined procedural matters of the meeting.

Apologies for absence as reported at the meeting.

Apologies were received from Councillor Pope.

To receive any declarations of interest by Members in items on the agenda.

Councillor Atwood declared that application PLA143/22 Breakstones, Speldhurst Road, Langton Green, Tunbridge Wells, Kent was from a family member and left the meeting when that item was discussed.

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.

Councillors Atwood, Bailey, Bland, Britcher-Allan, Fitzsimmons, Johnson, Le Page, Moon, Patterson, White, Neville and Poile advised that they had been lobbied by objectors on application PLA141/22 Lamberhurst Vineyard, Furnace Lane, Lamberhurst, Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

To note the application sites visited, as recorded at the meeting.

Members had not undertaken any site visits.

It was stated that the minutes had the date of the next meeting as 17 May 2023 and should have read 12 April 2023.

RESOLVED – That subject to the above amendment, the minutes of the meeting dated Wednesday 22 March 2023 be recorded as a correct record.

The running order of the applications listed below is subject to change and will be agreed by the Chairman and announced at the meeting.

Planning Report and Presentation – The Head of Planning Services submitted a report in respect of application PLA141/22 Lamberhurst Vineyard, Furnace Lane, Lamberhurst, Tunbridge Wells, Kent and this was summarised at the meeting by Charlotte Oben, Principal Planning Officer and illustrated by means of a visual presentation.

Updates and additional representation – Since publication of the agenda report, the presenting officers updated:

·        Bullet point 3 in summary of recommendations to refer to paragraph 176 of NPPF not 172

Bullet point after recommendation to read:

The provision of 7 dwellings for affordable housing at a social rent within the site, with three bungalows built to      M4 (3) standards and the remaining units built to M4 (2) standards where possible, and on a local connection cascade basis;

Registered Speakers – There were 8 speakers that registered in accordance with the Council’s Constitution (Planning Committee Procedure Rules)

Objectors:

·        John McNamara, a local resident.

·        Sarah Woodcock, a local resident.

·        Sam Nicholas, a local resident.

·        Tim Cornick, a local resident.

Supporters:

·        Laura O’Brien, agent for the application.

Parish Council Representative:

·        Councillor Graham White, Chair of Lamberhurst Parish Council.

Borough Councillors not on the Committee:

Councillor Linda Hall, Goudhurst and Lamberhurst spoke in objection to the application.

Councillor David Knight, Goudhurst and Lamberhurst spoke in objection to the application.

Matters of clarification by Officers and Committee Members’ questions to Officers included:

                 i.          Following a previous proposal, the development had been reduced to 7 properties and was not considered to be major development in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

                ii.          The Council’s Landscape and Biodiversity officer considered that it was important to note that the effects of the development were very localised and also to note that the AONB Management Plan was supportive of small scale developments and affordable homes therefore, he considered that although there would be an impact predominantly from the development of that greenfield site he did not object to the development and to the proposal of this scale.

               iii.          The sustainability of the location of the site was discussed.

              iv.          In terms of biodiversity, it was advised that the scheme would achieve the 10% net gain.

                v.          Condition 7 addressed issues related to lighting and prevented lighting unless full details were approved in advance by the Local Planning Authority (LPA).

              vi.          In clarification to comments made by one of the speakers, it was advised that the housing land supply figures were 4.49 years and not 4.89 as stated.

                 i.          Paragraph 7.53 of the report detailed that the site was assessed through the call for sites, however, as part of the emerging Local Plan, sites lower than a yield of 10 units were not allocated so it did not form a proposed allocation.

                ii.          The current housing register identified a housing need of 10 households with a local connection to Lamberhurst and a great many more with a with a preference for Lamberhurst. Those that would be eligible for those properties would be those with a strong local connection to  ...  view the full minutes text for item PLA141/22

Planning Report and Presentation – The Head of Planning Services submitted a report in respect of application PLA142/22 Former John Lewis At Home, Kingstanding Business Park, Kingstanding Way, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent and this was summarised at the meeting by James Moysey Principal Planning Officer and illustrated by means of a visual presentation.

Updates and additional representation – Since publication of the agenda report, the presenting officers updated:

-        Further correspondence had been received from Kent County Council (KCC) which advised that that a figure of £3,500 pounds was secured in regard to a TRO within a Section 106 agreement to address the previous concerns raised by KCC in regard to access to the site from the larger car transporters, and this had been agreed with the applicant.

Registered Speakers – There was 1 speaker that registered in accordance with the Council’s Constitution (Planning Committee Procedure Rules)

Supporter:

·        John Hendy, Director at the Hendy Group.

Matters of clarification by Officers and Committee Members’ questions to Officers included:

-        It was envisaged that the applicant’s drop off facility would be in the service area to the rear of the site, closer to the Booker Wholesaler entrance. Conditions 19, 20 and 21 addressed various issues related to travel and parking on the site.

-        The two outstanding highways issues were confirmed as; parking and the distribution of parking and how that was split between customer, staff and forecourt space; and the other, whether a contribution was required towards sustainable transport options. Further information received related to parking was being reviewed by Kent County Council (KCC) Highways.

-        An explanation as to why the application was put before Members to grant delegated powers was provided.

-        The existing car parking surfaces was not proposed to be amended, and KCC Flood and Water Management had been consulted on the application and raised no objections subject to a couple of conditions that were addressed.

-        There were EV charging points shown on the proposed site plan and condition 14  required those to be implemented prior to the first use of the development and retained thereafter.

Committee Member debate and Officer clarification included:

-        Concerns related to flooding and drainage were raised and it was confirmed that site did not fall within an area of high flood risk or Flood Zone 2 or 3 or a strategic flood risk area. Paragraph 10.7 of the report and condition 18 addressed that issue and both were read for the benefit of the meeting.

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 Bailey seconded by Councillor Britcher-Allan and a vote was taken to grant delegated powers to officers to approve the application in line with the officer recommendation.

RESOLVED – That DELEGATED POWERS TO GRANT PLANNING PERMISSION be granted to application PLA142/22 subject to the resolution of the outstanding highway matters to the satisfaction of the Head of Planning Services and  ...  view the full minutes text for item PLA142/22

Planning Report and Presentation – The Head of Planning Services submitted a report in respect of application PLA143/22 Breakstones Speldhurst Road Langton Green Tunbridge Wells Kent and this was summarised at the meeting by James Moysey, Principal 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 included:

-        The exact age of the tree was unknown however, it was advised that in 1984 it was deemed sufficiently mature to warrant a tree preservation order and 20 years had since passed.

Committee Member debate and Officer clarification included:

-        No matters of significance were discussed.

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 Moon, seconded by Councillor Britcher-Allan and a vote was taken to approve the application in line with the officer recommendation.

RESOLVED – That application PLA143/22 be granted subject to the plans, conditions and informatives as set out in the agenda report.

RESOLVED – That the list of appeal decisions provided for information, be noted.

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.

There was no urgent business for consideration.

The next Planning Committee was scheduled for Wednesday 17 May 2023.

The next Planning Committee meeting was scheduled for Wednesday 17 May 2023.