Change of use of land for the erection of a new crematorium, associated car park, access road and gardens of remembrance, and area for natural and traditional burials.

The Chairman announced that he would not act as Chairman for the present item as he was a local Member for the item and intended to speak on the item during debate. With the agreement of the meeting he called on the Vice-Chairman, Cllr. Miss. Thornton, to chair the item.

(Cllr. Miss. Thornton in the Chair)

The proposal sought a change of use of the site to incorporate the erection of a crematorium, car park and access road, gardens of remembrance and areas for natural and traditional burials.

There would be a single story crematorium with a pitched and tiled roof and pitched roofed porte cocheres to the front and side. Access to the site would be via a new vehicular access onto London Road. The grounds were to be set out with a meadow, sustainable drainage system and area to scatter ashes to the sides and rear of the crematorium with a memorial garden and natural and flat stone burial areas in the centre and to the south.

The site was within the Green Belt and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty was on the opposite side of London Road. A public footpath ran along the southern and western boundaries to the site.

The report advised that the harm caused by the lack of available crematoria was sufficient to clearly outweigh the harm caused to the Green Belt by virtue of inappropriateness and other harm. The development could be accommodated without causing adverse impact to local road users, landscaping would be sympathetic to the character of the area and would provide biodiversity improvements.

Members’ attention was drawn to the tabled Late Observations sheet.

The Committee was addressed by the following speakers:

Against the Application:       Mr. Firth

For the Application:              Mr. Hodgson

Parish Representative:         Cllr. Brooker

County Representative         Cllr. Parry

Local Member:                      Cllr. Grint

Officers responded to questions. The Kent Highways Officer confirmed that the highway was already sufficiently wide to accommodate a dedicated right hand turn into the site. The planning officer did not believe that the dualling of the A21 would have significant impact on the reasonable travel times to the existing crematoria. Travel times were calculated taking account of the slower speed of funeral corteges.

It was MOVED by the Chairman and was duly seconded that the recommendation in the report, as amended by the Late Observations Sheet, to grant permission subject to conditions be adopted.

Members noted that the proposal would involve developing a greenfield site and would constitute inappropriate development.  The Committee said the development would undermine the purposes of the Green Belt, especially checking the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas but also preventing neighbouring towns from merging into one another. The land was an important part of the Green Belt in creating a separation between Sevenoaks and the London conurbation.

Although some Members considered there was a need to improve crematoria provision serving the District , it was considered that the very special circumstances had not been made out sufficient to outweigh the harm caused to the Green Belt. The development would constitute the suburbanisation of the area. It was important to protect the Green Belt.

The motion was put to the vote and there voted –

1 votes in favour of the motion

9 votes against the motion

The Chairman declared the motion lost. It was moved by Cllr. Williamson and was duly seconded that planning permission be refused. This was on the grounds that the proposal would have an urbanising effect on the Green Belt. The need for the proposal did not amount to very special circumstances that would clearly outweigh the demonstrable harm to the character and openness of the Green Belt contrary to Policies GB1 and EN1 of the Sevenoaks District Local Plan and paragraphs 79,80, 81, 89 of the NPPF.

The Chairman put this motion to the vote and it was -

Resolved: That planning permission be REFUSED for the following reasons:

The proposal would have an urbanising effect on the Green Belt. The need for the proposal does not amount to very special circumstances that would clearly outweigh the demonstrable harm to the character and openness of the Green Belt contrary to Policies GB1 and EN1 of the Sevenoaks District Local Plan and paragraphs 79,80, 81, 89 of the NPPF.

(Cllr. Williamson resumed the Chair. Cllr. Dickins entered the Chamber.)