The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Minutes of the meeting of the Group 7 December 2011

Resolved:       That the minutes of the meeting of the Local Development Framework Advisory Group held on 12 March 2012 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Cllr. Mrs. Cook declared a personal and prejudicial interest in minute item 27 as it related to the Land to the rear of Garden Cottages, Leigh as the access route would affect her home address.

Cllr. Fittock declared a personal interest in minute item 27 as it related to the Swanley Town Centre Regeneration area, as a trustee of Swanley Town Centre Recreation Ground.

The completed action was noted.

The Planning Services Manager reminded the Group that the draft Allocations and Development Management Development Plan Document (ADM DPD) was an initial proposal in advance of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) being finalised. The Chairman had recently been informed by a senior civil servant from the Department for Communities and Local Government that the NPPF was due to be finalised at the end of March 2012.

The acting Planning Policy Team Leader gave a presentation on the DPD. Although during consultation the Site Allocations, Development Management Policies and Open Space Allocations were treated individually they were now merged into a single document to improve clarity and efficiency.

Site Allocations

Since the 2010 version of the document was sent for consultation there had been some revisions. 5 areas had since received planning permission or been built out. A further 3 sites were no longer to be included, though together these accounted for only 20 units. On several sites the number of units had altered and the most significant of these was United House, Godsel Road. At United House the number of units had increased from 116 to 250 as there had been a boundary change. The site was to be purely residential and the owner had shown how noise problems could be overcome.

The total number of allocated units was 3,604 which was still in line with the Core Strategy.

Land use different from the first consultation was proposed at 9 sites including the West Kingsdown Industrial Estate, which was now considered to be functioning well as an employment site. One new site had been identified at Bovis Manor House, New Ash Green as Bovis planned to relocate and it was considered that the site could be suitable for allocation for residential development. A further, supplementary consultation was proposed to run for 6 weeks between April and May 2012.

A Member asked whether it was possible to provide more 3 and 4 bedroom houses in the Land Rear of Garden Cottages, Leigh to suit the needs of local families. The Officer clarified that in the development guidance “detached” should replace “attached”.

The Member added that she was surprised at the proposed change in use for the Glaxo Smith Kline, Powder Mills, Leigh site. She thought a greater opportunity should be given for businesses to fill the site and believed enterprise units would be popular. There was already too much pressure on schools and at Hildenborough station from the number of residents in the area. Residential development would treble the size of the hamlet. Officers stated that the site formed part of the consultation but independent research had shown it was not as viable for business as other sites due to its location, poor access and lack of prominence. Any residential allocation would be within the footprint of the existing site. Officers would consider the representations made to them. On the advice of the Kent Highways Service it was proposed, subject to consultation, that the road to the west of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.