To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 28 September 2023, as a correct record.

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held 28 September 2023 be approved, and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Including any interests not already registered

Cllr Camp declared for Minute 34 - 23/01864/HOUSE - The Old Barracks, 95 Dartford Road, Sevenoaks Kent TN13 3TF that she was a member of Sevenoaks Town Council, but that she remained open minded.

Cllr Paul Darrington declared for Minute 35 - 23/00575/FUL - The Olympic , Beechenlea Lane, Swanley Kent BR8 8DR that he was a member of Swanley Town Council, but that he remained open minded.

Cllr Horwood declared for Minute 35 - 23/00575/FUL - The Olympic , Beechenlea Lane, Swanley Kent BR8 8DR that he was predetermined and would not participate in the item.

Cllr Harrison declared for Minute 36 - 23/01534/FUL - Land Rear Of 26 To 32, Hever Road, West Kingsdown Kent TN15 6HD that she was the local councillor for the area, but that she remained open minded.

All Councillors declared that they had been lobbied in respect of Minute 34 - 23/01864/HOUSE - The Old Barracks, 95 Dartford Road, Sevenoaks Kent TN13 3TF.

Cllrs Bayley, Hogarth, and Malone declared that they had been lobbied in respect of Minute  35 - 23/00575/FUL - The Olympic , Beechenlea Lane, Swanley Kent BR8 8DR.

Proposed infill of existing balcony to create en-suite, alteration to fenestration.

The proposal sought planning permission for a proposed infill of existing balcony to create en-suite, alteration to fenestration. The application had been referred to the Committee by Councillor Skinner to test the view of the Conservation Officer, as reflected in the recommendation, that the development would be harmful to a Locally Listed Building.

Members’ attention was brought to the main agenda papers and the late observations, which did not alter the recommendation.

The Committee was addressed by the following speakers:

Members asked questions of clarification of the speaker and the officer. In response to questions, Members were advised that the proposed en-suite would utilise existing drainage already present for the balcony. The colour of the proposed infill could be conditioned; this would need to be assessed for its impact to the heritage asset. It was explained that Locally Listed assets did not have the same statutory designation as Listed Buildings, but were referred to within the National Planning Policy Framework as non-designated heritage assets. The Locally Listed designation applied to the unit as a whole, including the balcony. It was the Conservation Officer’s view that the bulk of the infill would undermine views of the building.

It was moved by the Chairman that the recommendation to refuse planning permission within the report be agreed. Members discussed the application, with particular attention to the bulk and colouring of the proposed infill. The lack of infill under the existing balcony was discussed. Members further discussed the importance of making heritage assets habitable in line with modern standards of living, noting that the proposal would provide additional facilities through existing infrastructure. 

The motion to refuse planning permission was put to the vote, and it was

Resolved: That planning permission be refused on the following grounds:

The bulk, unsympathetic design and materials of the proposed development would neither conserve nor enhance the locally listed building.

The proposal would harm the significance of the non-designated heritage asset and consequently would be contrary to policies EN4 of the Sevenoaks Allocations and Development Management Plan (ADMP) and C1 of the Sevenoaks Town Neighbourhood Plan (STNP) as well as the heritage principles of the National Planning Policy Framework (specifically paragraph 203).

The bulk and design of the proposal, in a highly prominent position, is considered to have a detrimental impact on the overall appearance of the street scene contrary to policies EN1 of the ADMP, SP1 of the Core Strategy and C4 of the STNP.

Installation of a rugby pitch together with associated changing rooms, toilet facilities and training area.

The proposal sought planning permission for the installation of a rugby pitch together with associated changing rooms, toilet facilities and training area. The application had been referred to the committee by Councillor Barnes on the grounds that the proposal would have an enhancement to biodiversity.

Members’ attention was brought to the main agenda papers.

The Committee was addressed by the following speakers:

Members asked questions of clarification of the speakers and the officer. Two ecological reports had been prepared on behalf of Swanley Town Council. KCC Ecology disagreed with the conclusion of the second, more recent assessment that the enhancement of the existing grassland would provide a biodiversity net gain on the site. Moving the soil but retaining the acidic grassland was not possible. Off-site compensation for the acidic grassland had initially been included in the application, but Sports England objected to the proposed location for this, as it would have resulted in the loss of a playing pitch.

It was moved by the Chairman that the recommendation to refuse planning permission within the report, be agreed. Members discussed the application, giving consideration to the significant economic, social, and community benefits of the scheme, and the mitigation strategy within the proposal.

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

It was moved and duly seconded that planning permission be granted, on the grounds that the proposed ecological strategy provided appropriate mitigation and enhancements which, alongside the social, economic, and community benefits to the area, weighed in favour of the development,  subject to the precise wording of the following conditions covering: Time limit; Plans; Construction Ecological Management Plan; Biodiversity Net Gain and Enhancement Strategy; Evidence of monitoring; Lighting, Drainage and topography details in accordance with Sport England request; Cycle parking; Car parking spaces; Electrical charging points; Archaeological investigations; Crime prevention; Landscaping; Site levels, and others to be agreed with the Assistant Chief Executive and Chief Officer for Planning & Regulatory Services.

The motion was put to the vote and it was

Resolved: That planning permission be GRANTED subject to the precise wording of the conditions covering: Time limit; Plans; Construction Ecological Management Plan; Biodiversity Net Gain and Enhancement Strategy; Evidence of monitoring; Lighting, Drainage and topography details in accordance with Sport England request; Cycle parking; Car parking spaces; Electrical charging points; Archaeological investigations; Crime prevention; Landscaping; Site levels, and others being agreed with the Assistant Chief Executive and Chief Officer for Planning & Regulatory Services.

Removal of former car parking area and erection of 4 dwellings with associated drive and car parking.

The proposal sought planning permission for the removal of former car parking area and erection of 4 dwellings with associated drive and car parking. The application had been referred to the Committee by Cllr. Harrison on the grounds of highway safety, parking, and neighbouring amenity.

Members’ attention was brought to the main agenda papers.

The Committee was addressed by the following speakers:

Members asked questions of clarification from the speakers and officers. They were advised that the proposed gate would be fixed open, to create a delineation. West Kingsdown Parish Council had previously cleaned the site and performed minor repairs to maintain it as a car park. They were further advised that KCC had not raised any safety concerns, and a lighting strategy would be conditioned to preserve amenity. There was no policy in place regarding the provision of EV chargers for guests. The existing car park was not a condition of a previous planning application. This would not prevent a new planning application from being submitted even if it had been a condition.

It was moved by the Chairman that the recommendation to grant planning permission within the report, be agreed. Members discussed the application, giving consideration to the loss of amenity for neighbours through noise pollution, the loss of parking, the potential impact on nearby shops and the rural economy, and the housing need of the district.

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) The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans and details: 23-10-02 RevA, 03 RevA, 04 RevA, 06 and 07. In addition to following supporting documents: Noise Impact Assessment (231408).

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

3) No development including any works of demolition shall take place on site until a Construction Management Plan has been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. The approved statement shall be adhered to throughout the construction period and shall include:(a) parking for vehicles of site personnel, operatives and visitors;(b) loading and unloading of plant and materials;(c) storage of plant and materials used in constructing the development;(d) programme of works (including measures for traffic management);(e) provision of boundary security hoarding;(f) measures to control the emissions of dust, dirt and noise during construction;(g) a scheme for the recycling/disposing of waste resulting from demolition and construction works(h) hours of operation.

To ensure the construction works mitigate against harm to the environment, ecology and neighbour amenity in accordance with policies EN1 and EN2 of the Allocations and Development Management Plan and SP11 of the Core Strategy.

4)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.