Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 29 November 2012

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting of the Development Control Committee held on 29 November 2012be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Including any interests not already registered

Cllr. McGarvey clarified that he knew the applicant and neighbours for item 4.1 SE/12/02560/FUL - Land Adj To Lane End, Sparepenny Lane, Eynsford DA4 0JJ and he had also acted as a temporary Deputy Clerk to Eynsford parish council. He would, however, be considering the application afresh.

There were no declarations of lobbying.

The Committee considered the following application:

The erection of two bedroom detached, single storey dwelling with ancillary garage and access drive

The proposal sought permission for the erection of a two bedroom detached, single storey dwelling with ancillary garage and access drive. It was proposed that the dwelling would be located approximately 13m back from Sparepenny Lane and positioned centrally on the plot. The site was located in the Metropolitan Green Belt and within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The site was located just outside the village envelope of Eynsford.

Officers considered that the proposal constituted inappropriate development and could not be considered as infill development and so the proposal would cause harm to the Green Belt. In addition the size, design and siting of the proposal cause harm to the openness and visual amenities of the surrounding Green Belt. No very special circumstances had been made by the applicants to outweigh this harm and justify the development. The proposal was also considered to be harmful to the character and appearance of the area and the protected landscape of the AONB.

Members’ attention was drawn to the tabled Late Observations sheet.

The Committee was addressed by the following speakers:

Against the Application:       Philip Norris

For the Application:              Jeff Haskins

Parish Representative:         Phillip Ward

Local Member:                      Cllr. Horwood

In response to a question the public speaker against the application informed the Committee the applicant had submitted 5 planning applications for the site since 1994.

Officers confirmed the ridge height of the proposed dwelling was 6.1m. The ridge height of Sydenham Cottage to the south was 6m and Lane End to the north was 8.7m.

It was MOVED by the Chairman and was duly seconded that the recommendation in the report, as amended by the Late Observations Sheet, to refuse permission be adopted.

It was noted that paragraph 79 of the National Planning Policy Framework set the aim of Green Belt policy as preventing urban sprawl. Although there was an exemption for limited infilling within villages the present site was outside the boundary of the settlement.

No very special circumstances had been made out to outweigh the harm caused to the Green Belt. Although the applicants had made an offer of an Affordable Housing contribution, the proposed dwelling did not fit into the Council’s planning definition of Affordable Housing.

A Member suggested the Council may in future need to consider whether to reconsider its planning policies in circumstances where a site already had development on either side of it. Officers clarified that they were keen on Members’ views. Each site should be considered on its own merits but in this case the village envelope had been drawn tightly as there was a distinct change in character when leaving the village.

An alteration to the motion was agreed to add that the proposal was also contrary to Policy EN1 of the Sevenoaks District Local Plan due to the bulk, height and scale of the proposal.

The motion was put to the vote and it was unanimously –

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

The land  ...  view the full minutes text for item 102.