Demolition of existing industrial and office buildings and redevelopment of site for 201 dwellings with associated parking and public open space. Creation of a layby with 3 No parking spaces on Goldsel Road. Revised details received relating to location of layby, noise impacts, ecology, public open space and affordable housing.

The application sought permission for the demolition of existing industrial and office buildings and redevelopment of site for 201 dwellings with associated parking and public open space. Creation of a layby with 3 No. parking spaces on Goldsel Road. Revised details received relating to location of layby, noise impacts, ecology, public open space and affordable housing. The application was referred to the Committee by Cllr. Searles to consider the impact of the development on the operation of Swantex Paper Mill, the density of the development and its impact on highways and local infrastructure.

Members’ attention was brought to the main agenda papers and the late observations sheet which proposed amendments to condition 20 and included two further conditions.

The Committee was addressed by the following speakers:

Against the Application:       John Escott

For the Application:              Andy Meader

Parish Representative:         Cllr. Searles

Local Member:                      Cllr. Searles and Cllr. Brookbank

Members asked questions of clarification from the speakers and officers. 

In response to questions Members were advised that the properties which backed onto the Swantex Paper Mill would not have habitable rooms at the back of the properties and noise readings had been taken over a 4 week period with readings every 15 minutes. The Housing Allocations Policy required a mix of housing from 1 to 4 bedroom properties and although 185 had been suggested in the policy it could rise as the site was located near to a town centre.

It was moved by the Chairman and duly seconded that the recommendation in the agenda to grant planning permission be agreed.

Members were concerned at the density and discussed the number of affordable housing units. It was noted that provision of affordable housing had been proved as the maximum reasonable that would be viable for the development to provide. Members discussed additional traffic implications the development could have on the surrounding roads.

Some Members expressed concern at the noise from the Swantex Paper Mill and although it was noted that there were mitigations in place to reduce the noise impact as set out in condition 12 and that no occupation of the residential units could take place until the acoustic protection was approved by the Council and implemented by the developer. However some Members were concerned that the noise would still travel and would be more noticeable at night. Members considered how the employment site, of Swantex Paper Mill could be affected.

The motion was put to the vote and it was lost.

It was moved and duly seconded that the application be refused on the grounds that the proposal represented an overdevelopment of the site; the noise and highways impact; the threat of loss of employment and that the Council’s housing target had been reached.

The motion was put to the vote and it was:

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

1)     The proposed development, by reason of its layout and design would provide substandard accommodation that would be harmful to the amenities of future occupiers and prejudice the operations of the adjacent industrial use, contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework, Planning Policy Guidance, Noise Policy Statement for England and policies EN2, EN7, H2(b) and EMP1(n) of the Sevenoaks Allocations and Development Management Plan (2015).

2)     The proposed development, by reason of creating additional traffic movements, would result in adverse travel impacts that would be harmful to existing highway congestion and amenity contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework and policies EN2 and T1 of the Sevenoaks Allocations and Development Management Plan (2015).

3)     The proposed development, by reason of its density would result in overdevelopment of this site, which is compounded by the above reasons for refusal and its inability to accommodate further development on the site without harm. Given that the Council is meeting its housing targets, there is no need to exceed the level agreed in the Sevenoaks Allocations and Development Management Plan (2015) contrary to policy SP7 of the Sevenoaks Core Strategy (2011) and policies EN1 and H2(b) of the Sevenoaks Allocations and Development Management Plan (2015).

(Cllr. Brown entered the chamber and gave his declarations of interest).