To consider the attached report (Parts 2 and 5).

The Council operates a scheme of public speaking at meetings of the Planning Committee. All applications on which the public has registered to speak will be taken first. Requests to speak at the meeting must be registered with Democratic Services (democraticservices@swale.gov.uk or call 01795 417328) by noon on Wednesday 8 March 2023.

Tabled updates for Item 2.1 Land at School Lane, Newington published 07.03.23.

PART 2

Applications for which PERMISSION is recommended

The Planning Consultant introduced the application as set out in the report.  He drew attention to the tabled update, previously emailed to the Committee which provided information on: the updated Heads of Terms; proposed amendment to condition (25); minor corrections to text at paragraphs 2.8, 11.8 and 9.105 of the report; additional information to background papers and plans; and further correspondence with the Parish Council and a Councillor.

Parish Councillor Stephen Harvey, representing Newington Parish Council, spoke against the application.

Chris Simmons, an Objector, spoke against the application.

Chris Loughhead, the Applicant, spoke in support of the application.

A Ward Member spoke against the application.

The Chair moved the officer recommendation to approve the application, and this was seconded by Councillor Ben J Martin.

The Chair invited Members to consider the application and points raised included:

·         Did not consider the issues raised by residents and the Parish Council had been addressed by officers;

·         the Council’s housing supply was not hampered by the lack of a Local Plan;

·         traffic from the site was more likely to travel along the rural lanes to get to the A2;

·         could not see how the application met the requirements of Policy DM26 of the Local Plan;

·         the concerns of Professor Stephen Peckham in respect of air quality and health, as set out on the tabled update had not been addressed;

·         the Railton personal injury collision data was out-of-date, so the highway assessment needed to be updated;

·         the impact on the Newington High Street Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) would be considerable;

·         did not consider Members could make a decision on the application with so many outstanding issues; and

·         concerned about the impact the development would have on the narrow rural lanes.

Councillor Tony Winckless moved a motion for a site visit.  This was seconded by Councillor Ken Rowles.

The Chair invited Members to consider the motion and points raised included:

·         Did not see the point of a site meeting as knew the site well;

·         Kent County Council (KCC) Highways and Transportation did not object to the application and they were the highway experts;

·         would be interested to see the narrow lanes and layout in School Lane, Newington;

·         if KCC Highways and Transportation raised no objection could not see what would be achieved by holding a site meeting; and

·         requested that officers provided responses in respect of air quality concerns and an archaeological report from KCC.

Councillor Mike Baldock moved the following amendment:  That officers also provide responses in respect of air quality concerns and request an archaeological report from KCC.  This was not seconded.  The Interim Head of Planning Services said that Members could either agree to defer the application for a site meeting or defer for further information but not both.

On being put to the vote the motion for a site meeting was agreed.

Resolved:  That application 22/505618/FULL be deferred to allow the Planning Working Group to meet on site.   

The Planning Consultant introduced the application as set out in the report.  He provided the following updates to the report: that the Heads of Terms set-out on pages 104 and 107 of the report be amended as follows: the Strategic Access Management and Monitoring Strategies (SAMMS) payment had increased from £250.39 per dwelling to £275.88 per dwelling; and the inclusion of a monitoring fee of 5%.  There was a minor correction at paragraph 11.3 on page 106 of the report which should read “It is considered that the proposals would not cause substantial harm” and the following wording should be included at Section 7 of the report “Background Papers and Plans – Plans and documents provided as part of application 21/505041/OUT”. 

The Planning Consultant referred to a question raised at the Chair’s briefing meeting about the meaning of a “kit bridge”, and confirmed it was a bridge delivered in kit form which could be easily erected onto the site.

Parish Councillor Mike Brown, representing Eastchurch Parish Council, spoke against the application.

Rob Preston, the Agent, spoke in support of the application.

A Ward Member spoke against the application.

The Chair moved the officer recommendation to approve the application, and this was seconded by Councillor Ben J Martin.

The Chair invited Members to consider the application and points raised included:

·         The report did not address any of the Parish Council’s concerns or set-out clearly what their concerns were;

·         the report was not clear and lots of information was missing so could not make a decision; and

·         could the Council seek to require some affordable housing within the application?

In response to a question from a Member about affordable housing, the Interim Head of Planning Services advised that the Council’s adopted policy was not to require affordable housing and Members had to make a decision on the application as submitted. 

Councillor Monique Bonney moved a motion for a site meeting.  This was seconded by Councillor Richard Darby.  On being put to the vote the motion for a site meeting was agreed.

A Member requested that officers liaise with the applicant to ensure that Members were given full access to the site at the site meeting.

Resolved:  That application 21/505041/OUT be deferred to allow the Planning Working Group to meet on site.

The Area Planning Officer introduced the application as set out in the report.

Rob Smith, an Objector, spoke against the application.

A Ward Member spoke against the application.

A Ward Member, who also a Member of the Planning Committee, spoke against the application.

The Chair moved the officer recommendation to approve the application, and this was seconded by Councillor Ben J Martin.

The Chair invited Members to consider the application and points raised included:

·         Concerned about loss of light and overshadowing to No. 15 Heron Close; and

·         officers considered the application was acceptable and could see no reason to refuse the application.

Councillor Corrie Woodford moved a motion for a site meeting.  This was seconded by Councillor Mike Baldock.  On being put to the vote the motion was lost.

There was some discussion about possible loss of light to No. 15 Heron Close.  The Area Planning Officer reported that officers had assessed the impact in detail and considered the development against the Building Research Establishment (BRE) Daylight and Sunlight guidelines and concluded that any loss of light would be relatively minimal.

Resolved:  That application 22/505674/FULL be approved subject to conditions (1) to (4) in the report.

PART 5

Decisions by the County Council and Secretary of State reported for information.

·                Item 5.1 – 77 Playstool Road Newington

APPEAL ALLOWED

DELEGATED REFUSAL

·                Item 5.2 – 2 Seaview Villas First Avenue Queenborough

APPEAL DISMISSED

DELEGATED REFUSAL

·                Item 5.3 – Land At 164 Bull Lane Newington

APPEAL DISMISSED

DELEGATED REFUSAL

·                Item 5.4 – Cripps Farm Plough Road Minster-on-sea

APPEAL DISMISSED

COMMITTEE REFUSAL

·                Item 5.5 – 12 Keycol Hill Bobbing ME9 8ND

APPEAL DISMISSED

DELEGATED REFUSAL

·                Item 5.6 – Gilron Bell Farm Lane Minster-on-sea

APPEAL ALLOWED

DELEGATED REFUSAL

·                Item 5.7 – 37 Holly Blue Drive Iwade

APPEAL ALLOWED

DELEGATED REFUSAL

·                Item 5.8 – 76-78 West Street Sittingbourne

APPEAL DISMISSED

DELEGATED REFUSAL

·                Item 5.9 – Car Park Storage R/o Unit 2-4 Stickfast Farm Bobbing

APPEAL ALLOWED

DELEGATED REFUSAL

In response to a question from a Member, the Area Planning Officer reported that the landscaping at the site had not been completed and enforcement action could be taken to ensure it was.

·                Item 5.10 – Land at Brielle Way, West End House, Sheerness

APPEAL ALLOWED

DELEGATED REFUSAL

·                Item 5.11 – 20 London Road Faversham

APPEAL DISMISSED

DELEGATED REFUSAL

·                Item 5.12 – Elmhurst Caravan Park Second Avenue Eastchurch

COSTS AWARDED TO THE COUNCIL

APPEAL AGAINST NON-DETERMINATION

APPEAL WITHDRAWN