To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 19 May 2016, as a correct record.

Resolved: That the minutes of the Development Control Committee held on 19 May 2016 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Including any interests not already registered

The Chairman read a statement from Cllr. Miss. Stack declaring that she was predetermined in respect of Minute 8 – SE/16/00918/FUL - Bradbourne Car Park, Bradbourne Park Road, Sevenoaks TN13 3YD and so gave her apologies for the meeting.

All Members of the Committee declared that they had been lobbied in respect of Minute 8 – SE/16/00918/FUL - Bradbourne Car Park, Bradbourne Park Road, Sevenoaks TN13 3YD.

There were no public speakers against the following item and no Member reserved the item for debate. Therefore, in accordance with Part 7.3(e) of the constitution, the following matter was considered without debate:

The temporary change of use and formation of a car park (up to 12 months) with access and associated arboricultural works.

The proposal was for the temporary change of use and formation of a car park (up to 12 months) with access and associated arboricultural works.  It had been referred to Committee as the District Council was the applicant for the submitted scheme.

Members’ attention was brought to the first late observation sheet, which set out 5 additional recommended conditions, amendments to recommended conditions 2, 6, 8 and 9 in the report and an additional informative.

Resolved:  That planning permission be granted subject to the following conditions and informative

1)   This planning permission is granted for a temporary period of twelve months only, from the date of this permission. By the date this permission expires, the rubber mesh matting, tarmaced vehicular access and associated works shall be removed, the car park use shall cease and the site shall be restored in accordance with a landscaping scheme that has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. To ensure that the existing grassland re-establishes the landscaping scheme shall include a simple long term management plan for the site.

      To reflect the temporary nature of the development and in order to safeguard the longer term function of the land as an allocated employment site, in accordance with policy EMP1 of the Sevenoaks Allocations and Development Management Plan and policy SP8 of the Sevenoaks Core Strategy.

2)   The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans: DHA/11402/01, DHA/11402/02 and 11403-T-01 Rev.P4.

      For the avoidance of doubt and in the interests of proper planning.

3)   The development shall be carried out wholly in accordance with the Arboricultural Impact Assessment & Arboricultural Method Statement dated 8th April 2016.

      To secure the retention of the mature trees on the site and adjacent to it and to safeguard their long-term health as supported by Policy EN1 of the Sevenoaks Allocations and Development Management Plan.

4)   The surfacing of the first 5m of the access from the edge of the highway shall be made up of a bound material.

      In the interest of highway safety as supported by policy EN1 of the Sevenoaks Allocations and Development Management Plan.

5)   The new access to the temporary car park and the pedestrian crossing area shown on the approved plans shall be completed prior to the temporary car park use of the site hereby approved commences and shall be maintained thereafter until the temporary use ceases.

      In the interest of highway safety as supported by policy EN1 of the Sevenoaks Allocations and Development Management Plan.

6)   No development shall be carried out on the land until a comprehensive Construction Management Plan, which should include (i) details of car parking for construction personnel, (ii) undertaking that no vehicles will be permitted to reverse into or out of the site except under the supervision of a banksman, (iii) details of wheel washing facilities and procedures, and (iv) proposed times for construction work to be carried out, has been submitted to and approved  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

Reserved Planning Applications

The Committee considered the following planning applications:

Construction of a multi storey car park on surface of existing car park to provide three levels (ground, first & second) of decked parking.

The proposal was for construction of a multi storey car park on the surface of an existing car park to provide three levels (ground, first and second) of decked parking.  It had been referred to Committee because the Council was both the applicant and the landowner.

Members’ attention was brought to the main agenda papers and the first and second late observations sheets, which set out further representations received and recommended an additional condition following a further representation from Kent Highways, to control construction deliveries and site parking.

The Committee was addressed by the following speakers:

Against the Application:            Adam Oliver

For the Application:                  -

Parish Representative:              Cllr. Schneider

Local Members:                        Cllr. Clack

                                               Cllr. Fleming

Members asked questions of clarification from the speakers and officers.

It was moved by the Chairman and duly seconded that the recommendations in the agenda, as amended by the late observations sheet, be agreed.

Members discussed the impact of the development on the neighbouring amenity at The Acorns, the design and scale of the proposals and the character of the area, the impact on air quality, the level of parking required in Sevenoaks, the Transport Assessment and whether the congestion impact would become severe.

The motion was put to the vote and it was

Resolved:  That planning permission be granted subject to the following conditions

1)     The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission.

In pursuance of section 91 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

2)    No development shall be carried out on the land until samples of the materials to be used in the construction of the external surfaces of the building hereby permitted have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Council. The development shall be carried out using the approved materials.   The Local Planning Authority is satisfied that it is fundamental to the development permitted to address this issue before development commences and that without this safeguard planning permission should not be granted.

      To ensure that the appearance of the development is in harmony with the existing character of the area as supported by Policy EN1 of the Sevenoaks Allocations and Development Management Plan.

3)    No development shall commence until the tree protection measures have been installed in full, as set out in the Arboricultural Implications Assessment by Higginson Associates. The approved measures shall be retained on site for the duration of the development, and no works, storage or activities within a protected area shall take place unless specifically set out in the above report or agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

      To protect existing trees on site, in order to safeguard the character of the area and soften the impact of the development, in accordance with Policy EN1 of the Sevenoaks Allocations and Development Management Plan.

4)   Notwithstanding the submitted plans, no trees shall be removed on the site other than those specifically shown for removal on the Tree Protection Plan submitted with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

Replacement of existing two storey extension with new two storey extension to rear, alterations to fenestration, demolition of existing garage and erection of new garage, new pitched roof to replace flat roof over utility room, installation of 8 sqm. of photovoltaic panels. Raised pathway to front, and extension of patio to the rear.

The proposal was for the replacement of an existing two storey extension with new two storey extension to rear, alterations to fenestration, demolition of existing garage and erection of new garage, new pitched roof to replace flat roof over utility room and installation of 8 sqm. of photovoltaic panels. There was to be a raised pathway to the front and extension of the patio to the rear.  It had been referred to Committee by Councillor Lindsay as it was considered that the proposal constituted no increase in floorspace and that there were very special circumstances.

Members’ attention was brought to the main agenda papers and the late observations sheets which provided clarification on the planning history but did not change the recommendation.

Against the Application:            -

For the Application:                  Mike Rayfield

Parish Representative:              -

Local Member:                         Cllr. Lindsay

Members asked questions of clarification from the speakers and officers.

It was moved by the Chairman and duly seconded that the recommendations in the agenda, be agreed.

Members discussed the shed to the rear of the garage which had been demolished prior to the submission of the planning application and the extent to which it constituted very special circumstances for inappropriate development in the Green Belt.

The motion was put to the vote and it was

Resolved:  That planning permission be refused for the following reason

The proposal, by virtue of its additional bulk, scale and mass, represents inappropriate development in the Green Belt, is harmful to its openness, and does not comply with policies GB1 and GB3 of the ADMP, and the NPPF.