To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 7 December 2023 as a correct record.

Resolved: That the Minutes of the Development Management Committee held on 7December 2023, be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Including any interests not already registered

Cllr Horwood declared for Minute 45 - 23/00505/FUL - Land North West Of Little Browns Railway Bridge, Hilders Lane, Edenbridge Kent that he worked for UK Power Networks who would be connected to the power source but that he remained open minded.

Cllr Varley declared for Minute 46 - 23/02344/FUL - Chance Cottage , 104 Oakhill Road, Sevenoaks Kent TN13 1NU that he was the local ward Member and was a Member of Sevenoaks Town Council where the item had been considered, but he remained open minded.

Cllr Camp declared for Minute 46 - 23/02344/FUL - Chance Cottage , 104 Oakhill Road, Sevenoaks Kent TN13 1NU that she had chaired the meeting of Sevenoaks Town Council where the item had been considered, but she remained open minded.

All Members, except for Cllr Malone declared that they had been lobbied in respect of  Minute 45 - 23/00505/FUL - Land North West Of Little Browns Railway Bridge, Hilders Lane, Edenbridge Kent

Cllr Harrison declared that she had been lobbied in respect of Minute 46 23/02344/FUL - Chance Cottage , 104 Oakhill Road, Sevenoaks Kent TN13 1NU

Cllr Esler, Malone, Varley, Williamson and Harrison declared that they had been lobbied in respect of Minute 47 - 23/02516/FUL - Singles Cross Farm , Singles Cross Lane, Knockholt Kent TN14 7NG

The Committee considered the following planning applications:

Solar photovoltaic farm use for a period of 40 years, comprising PV panels mounted on metal frames, new access tracks, substations, inverter substations, external transformers, switchgear kiosks, storage building, communications building, underground cabling, perimeter fencing with CCTV cameras and access gate, temporary construction compound and all ancillary grid infrastructure and associated works.

The proposal sought planning permission for Solar photovoltaic farm use for a period of 40 years, comprising PV panels mounted on metal frames, new access tracks, substations, inverter substations, external transformers, switchgear kiosks, storage building, communications building, underground cabling, perimeter fencing with CCTV cameras and access gate, temporary construction compound and all ancillary grid infrastructure and associated works.

The application had been referred to the Committee by Councillor Jim Morgan on the grounds of flood risk and traffic flow.

Members’ attention was brought to the main agenda papers and late observation sheet which, following the amendments to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) that were published on the 19December 2023, the numbering of some of the paragraphs referenced had changed. It also proposed amended recommendations to condition 8 and 16 to refer to the revised NPPF. Members were also advised of further paragraph references changes that had not been detailed in the late observation sheet. The application was also subject to referral to the Secretary of State.

The Committee was addressed by the following speakers:

Members asked questions of clarification from the speakers and officer, which focused on drainage, flooding, and visibility of the solar panels.

It was moved by the Chairman and duly seconded that the recommendations within the report and late observations be agreed.

Members discussed the application, noting the site would remain designated as Green Belt and return to a grazing field at the end of the life of the panels. Members discussed the support from the Town Council and subject to conditions a local Member had also expressed his support. It was noted by Members the screening proposed and very special circumstances.

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 approved is for a period of forty operational years from the date that electricity from the development is first exported to the National Grid for commercial operation; or within two years of the cessation of the exportation of electricity to the grid, whichever is the sooner. No later than three months before the cessation of the development a Decommissioning Method Statement shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The Statement shall include the timing for decommissioning of the solar farm, along with the measures, and a timetable for their completion (to be completed within 12 months from cessation of the export of energy to the grid), to secure the removal of the solar farm equipment and all associated road, equipment and structures in accordance with the Decommissioning Method Statement.

In order to ensure that the approved development does not remain on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.

Erection of 2 dwellings with detached garages, extension to existing dwelling and associated works.

The proposal sought planning permission for erection of 2 dwellings with detached garages, extension to existing dwelling and associated works.

 The application had been referred to the Committee by Councillor Gustard on the grounds of harm to the amenity of neighbours, contrary to policy EN2 of the Allocations and Development Management Plan (ADMP), and harm due to the size and massing of the proposal, contrary to policy EN1 of the ADMP.

Members’ attention was brought to the main agenda papers and late observation sheet which did not amend the recommendation but also brought Members’ attention to the revised NPPF and change or paragraph references.

The Committee was addressed by the following speakers:

Members asked questions of clarification from the speakers and officer regarding ancillary use of the garages and landscaping.

It was moved by the Chairman that the recommendations within the report, and for an additional condition regarding ancillary use of the garage,  be agreed.

Members discussed the application, giving consideration to the additional condition.

The motion was put to the vote and it was

Resolved:  That planning permission be GRANTED by 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: 102 C, 200 D, 201 D, 202 A, 203 A, 204 B, 205, 300 C, 301 B, 400 A, 401, 0627/23/B/1A.

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

3) The materials to be used in the construction of the development shall be those indicated on the approved plan 203 A, 300 C and 301 B.

To ensure that the appearance of the development is in harmony with the existing character of the area as supported by policies EN1 of the Sevenoaks Allocations and Development Management Plan and C4 of the Sevenoaks Town Neighbourhood Plan.

4) Prior to the commencement of works on the development hereby approved, a Construction Management Plan shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The plan shall include the following:  (a) Routing of construction and delivery vehicles to / from site; (b) Parking and turning areas for construction and delivery vehicles and site personnel; (c) Site working hours and timing of deliveries; (d) Site layout and security measures; (e) Provision of wheel washing facilities; (f) Temporary traffic management /signage; (g) measures to deal with noise and dust.

To ensure details of construction are provided in accordance with policies EN1 and T2 of the Sevenoaks Allocations and Development Management Plan.

5) Prior to the development reaching above damp proof course, details of the hard and soft landscaping and boundary treatments shall be submitted to and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

Conversion of an existing barn to a 4 bedroom dwellinghouse incorporating demolition in linked building, erection of garage with cycle store and associated landscaping, and creation of a new vehicular access. Removal of caravan and store unit.

The proposal sought planning permission for conversion of an existing barn to a 4 bedroom dwelling house incorporating demolition in linked building, erection of garage with cycle store and associated landscaping, and creation of a new vehicular access. Removal of caravan and store unit.

The application had been referred to the Committee by Councillor Grint due to concern that the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt.

Members’ attention was brought to the main agenda papers and late observation sheet which, following the amendments to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) that were published on the 19December 2023, the numbering of some of the paragraphs referenced had changed. It also proposed an additional condition as an alternative to the scheme on the same site which had been allowed at appeal.

The Committee was addressed by the following speakers:

Members asked questions of clarification from the officer regarding the additional condition.

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

Members discussed the application.

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: Drawing No. COB/20/1098/202, 203, 205. 206 and SCF-PPC-00-XX-DR-C-600 (Rev P1).

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

3) The materials to be used in the construction of the development shall be those indicated on the approved plan Drawing No. COB/20/1098/ 202 and 203.

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.

4) Notwithstanding the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 as amended (or any Order revoking or re-enacting those orders), no development falling within Classes A, AA or E of Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the said Order shall be carried out or made to the dwelling without the grant of planning permission by the local planning authority.

In order to protect the openness of the Metropolitan Green Belt in accordance with Policy GB7 of the Sevenoaks Allocations and Development Management Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework.

5) The curtilage of the dwelling hereby approved shall be the land contained with the green line on the approved site plan (Drawing No. COB/20/1098/ 205).

To prevent inappropriate development within the Green Belt and encroachment into the countryside as supported by the National Planning Policy Framework.

6) No permanent development shall be carried out on the hardstanding or the land surrounding the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.