To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 26 January 2017 as a correct record.

Resolved: That the minutes of the Development Control Committee held on 26 January 2017 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Including any interests not already registered

Councillor Edwards-Winser declared for Minute 72 Objection to Tree Preservation Order number 9 of 2016 located at Russell House School, Station Road, Otford TN14 5QU, that he was a local ward member but had not taken part in any Parish Council considerations.

For reasons of transparency, the Chairman declared for Minute 72 Objection to Tree Preservation Order number 9 of 2016 located at Russell House School, Station Road, Otford TN14 5QU, that his estranged wife worked at Russell House School.

There were none.

With the Committee’s agreement, the Chairman brought the Tree Preservation item forward for consideration.

The Arboricultural and Landscape Officer referred to the objection received from the school and their agents in respect of the confirmation of the tree preservation order. The officer also advised that the serving of the TPO was not intended to halt developments on the site.

The motion was put to the vote and it was

Resolved: That TPO 9 of 2016 be confirmed without amendment.

The Committee considered the following planning applications:

Outline application for the erection of a detached four bedroom dwelling, new access and off street parking with some matters reserved.

The outline proposal sought the erection of a detached four bedroom dwelling, new access and off street parking with some matters reserved. The application has been referred to Development Control Committee by Councillor Mrs. Bayley on the grounds that development affected visibility and that there was a danger relating to the speed of vehicles travelling on London Road.

Members’ attention was brought to the main agenda papers and late observations sheet which added a substitute condition for condition 5 and added an additional condition.

The Committee was addressed by the following speakers:

Against the Application:            -

For the Application:                            David McMurtary

Parish Representative:               -

Local Member:                          Cllr Bayley

Members asked questions of clarification from the speakers and Officers.

It was moved by the Chairman and duly seconded that the recommendation and the late observations in the report, be agreed.

Members discussed whether the proposal would harm the surrounding open space and if the design was sympathetic to the rest of Uplands Close. Members noted that as a three storey building, the property was out of character and disproportionate with the other dwellings in the area. Members acknowledged that although KCC Highways had not objected to the development on traffic safety grounds, however, they still had concerns about building on a busy highway.

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

It was moved by Councillor Brown and duly seconded that the application should be refused as the development was not in keeping with the street scene due to scale and bulk and be contrary to Policy EN1. Access to the property was also unsatisfactory.

The motion was put to the vote and it was

Resolved: That planning permission be refused for the following reason

The proposal would not provide a satisfactory means of access and by virtue of the proposed bulk, height and scale, would harm the setting and character of the area, contrary to Policy EN1 of the Sevenoaks Allocations and Development Management Plan and the Sevenoaks Residential Character Area Assessment.

Change of use from agriculture to class B8 use (storage or distribution) with associated parking. As amplified by additional information received 07.12.16.

The application was for planning permission for a change of use from agriculture to class B8 use (storage or distribution) with associated parking, as amplified by additional information received on 7.12.16. The application was referred to Committee by Councillor Gaywood to discuss the Green Belt implications and possible overdevelopment within the Green Belt.

Members’ attention was brought to the main agenda papers and late observations sheet which proposed an amendment to Condition 1.

The Committee was addressed by the following speakers:

Against the Application:   -

For the Application:                  Graham Simpkin

Parish Representative:     Frank Cottee

Local Member:                 -

Members asked questions of clarification from the speakers and Officers.

It was moved by the Chairman that the recommendations and late observations in the report be agreed.

Members discussed protection of the Green belt and noted that the site had been steadily expanding since the farm was first established in the 1980s. Members also discussed the potential impact of the site on local congestion and noted that the conditions contained in the proposal would make it easier for the Council to regulate the site.

The motion was put to the vote and it was

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

1)     The permission hereby granted shall only be for the benefit of Mr L Smith trading as Luxury Lawns and only for such period of time as he is occupying the land and building. The use shall not be for the benefit of the land and building nor any other person or business.

In order that any other proposal for the use of the land and building is the subject of a separate application to be determined on its merits, having regard to impact on highway conditions as supported by T1 of the Sevenoaks Allocations and Development Management Plan.

2)     The parking spaces shown on the approved plan 1320/9 shall be provided and kept available for such use at all times and no permanent development shall be carried out on the land so shown or in such a position as to preclude vehicular access to the parking spaces.

To ensure a permanent retention of vehicle parking for the property as supported by Policy T2 of the Sevenoaks Allocations and Development Management Plan.

3)     Other than for the single skip bin for containing rubbish from the use of the site hereby approved, no part of the land shall be used for open storage or for the display of goods and products.

To prevent inappropriate development within the Green Belt and to safeguard the appearance of the area as supported by Government advice in the form of the National Planning Policy Framework and EN1 of the Allocations and Development Management Plan.

4)     Notwithstanding the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015 (as amended), no extensions shall be made, nor external alterations carried out to the application building.

To prevent inappropriate development within the Green Belt and to safeguard the appearance of the area as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 73.

Side and rear extension and loft conversion.

The proposal sought planning permission for a side and rear extension and loft conversion. The application had been referred by Councillor London due to concerns of proximity to neighbours and overdevelopment of the site.

Members’ attention was brought to the main agenda papers and the late observations sheet which did not alter the recommendation. The Officer advised that theproposal also included the installation of roof lights to the front, rear and the right side elevations. The proposed side and rear extension would protrude 2.8 metres from the existing rear elevation and the proposed loft conversion would extend the roof from the current flat roof into a hipped roof to match the existing.

The Committee was addressed by the following speaker:

Against the Application:            -

For the Application:                  -

Parish Representative:              Andy Clarke

Local Member:                         -

Members asked questions of clarification from the Officers.

It was moved by the Chairman that the recommendation and late observations in the report, be agreed.

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

1)            The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of 3 years from the date of this permission.

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

2)            The materials to be used in the construction of the external surfaces of the development hereby permitted shall match those used on the existing building.

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)            The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in   accordance with the following approved plans: EX-P-00, EXP-01, EX-P-02 (A), EX-E-01, EX-E-02, EX-E-03, P-P-01, P-P-02, P-P-03, P-E-01, P-E-02, P-E-03(A), P-S-01

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

4)            No development shall take place until details of the layout and surfacing for two parking spaces and the means of access thereto have been submitted for approval in writing. The approved scheme shall be provided before first occupation of the extension hereby approved, in accordance with the approved details and thereafter be kept available for vehicle parking for the sole use of the dwelling at all times.

In the interest of highway safety and in order to satisfy the requirements of Policy T2 of the Sevenoaks District Council's Allocations and Development Management Plan. 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.