To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 30 March 2023 as a correct record.

Resolved: That the Minutes of the Development Control Committee meeting held 30 March 2023, be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Including any interests not already registered

Cllr Streatfeild declared for Item 4.1 – 22/00179/ADV that he was the Kent County Councillor for the area.

Cllrs Layland, Pett, Purves, and Streatfeild declared that they had been lobbied in respect of Minute 77 – 22/03067/FUL – Causeway House, Tonbridge Road, Chiddingstone Causeway, Tonbridge, Kent TN11 8JP

Two digital 75 inch LCD display screen, one on each side of the Street Hub unit.

The proposal sought permission to display illuminated advertisements on two digital 75 inch LCD display screens which project back-to-back within a self-standing “street hub”. The application had been referred to the Committee by Cllr Fleming on the basis of visual impact, and the impact on highways safety.

Members’ attention was brought to the main agenda papers.

The Committee was addressed by the following speakers:

Members asked questions of clarification from the officer.

The officer explained all advertisements on the screens would be static, and that this would be enforced by a condition. The planning permission for the hub itself was a separate application, but notice needed to be served to Kent County Council before it could come before it could advance. The intensity of the illumination of the advertisements, as conditioned, would be 600 cd/m², which was below the recommended maximum of 1000 cd/m² for suburban areas. 

It was moved by the Chairman that the recommendations within the report, be agreed.

Members discussed the application. They expressed concern over the impact of the screens on the designated and undesignated heritage assets in the area. They discussed the other advertisements in the area, which were on the sides of buildings and railings, and how the screens would impact the street scene to a greater extent than these. They further considered the possible distraction the illuminated advertisements provided for motorists.

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

It was moved and duly seconded that the consent for advertising be refused on the grounds of street clutter harmful to the visual amenity of the area contrary to Regulation 3(1) of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007 and Policy EN1 of the Sevenoaks Allocations and Development Management Plan.

The motion was put to the vote and it was

Resolved: that permission to display illuminated advertisements be refused on the following grounds:

The advertisements, due to their prominent position close to designated and undesignated heritage assets would result in street clutter harmful to the visual amenity of the area contrary to Regulation 3(1) of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007 and Policy EN1 of the Sevenoaks Allocations and Development Management Plan.

Demolition of existing buildings. Erection of 18NO. residential units with vehicular access, parking, carports, electricity substation and hard and soft landscaping.

The proposal sought planning permission for the demolition of existing buildings and erection of 18NO. residential units with vehicular access, parking,

carports, electricity substation and hard and soft landscaping. The application had been referred to the Committee as the recommendation was contrary to the Parish Council objection, and in the absence of a Local Ward District Councillor.

Members’ attention was brought to the main agenda papers and the late observations sheet, which did not amend the recommendations.

The Committee was addressed by the following speakers:

Members asked questions of clarification of the speakers and the officer.

The officer explained that there was no affordable housing included within the plan due to its Vacant Building Credit, in line with policy SP3 of the Local Plan and Paragraph 64 of the National Planning Policy Framework. The existing access would be closed off and a new access opened. Condition 11 prevented this new access from being opened until the off-site improvements were complete. There would be no overall loss of trees, as the removed conifers would be replaced with native trees. The plans and conditions imposed would reduce the flooding issues of the site, including surface water flood storage tanks. The scheme also reduced the site coverage of buildings, which would reduce flooding. The water course along the boundary would be maintained by the management company. The developer had accepted requests for additional road safety features, but these elements would be considered by Kent County Council separately from the planning process.

It was moved by the Chairman that the recommendations within the report, be agreed.

Members discussed the application. They expressed concern regarding the lack of affordable housing, and how that would limit the number of Chiddingstone Causeway residents that could afford the properties. They acknowledged the benefits of developing the currently vacant properties and noted the Parish Council’s comments within the late observations.

The motion was put to the vote and it was

Resolved: that

A)    planning permission be granted subject to the imposition of the following conditions: 

a) The conditions set out below, subject to any minor changes to wording

being agreed in writing by the Chief Officer for Planning and Regulatory Services, and

b) A satisfactory legal agreement made under section 106 of the Town and

Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) being completed within three months of the date of the decision, unless in accordance with a new timescale otherwise agreed in writing by the Chief Officer for Planning and Regulatory Services.

Section 106 Agreement

The Section 106 Agreement shall include the following requirements:

KCC Primary and Secondary Education Contributions – Total - £172,240.02

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) The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans  ...  view the full minutes text for item 77.