To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 5 January 2023, as a correct record.

Resolved: That the Minutes of the Development Control Committee meeting held on 5 January 2023, be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Including any interests not already registered

Cllr Perry Cole declared for Minute 59 – 19/05000/HYB – Fort Halstead, Crow Drive, Halstead, Sevenoaks TN14 7BU that he was the local Member for Kent Country Council within a division that was mentioned within the report.

Cllr Williams declared for Minute 59 - 19/05000/HYB – Fort Halstead, Crow Drive, Halstead, Sevenoaks TN14 7BU that under a previous position as a Parish Councillor he had considered the application but remained open minded in considering the application afresh.

There were none.

Hybrid application comprising, in outline: development of business space (use classes B1a/b/c) of up to 27,773 sqm GEA; works within the X enclave relating to energetic testing operations, including fencing, access, car parking; development of up to 635 residential dwellings; development of a mixed use village centre (use classes A1/A3/A4/A5/B1a/D1/D2); land safeguarded for a primary school; change of use of Fort Area and bunkers to Historic Interpretation Centre (use class D1) with workshop space and; associated landscaping, works and infrastructure. In detail: demolition of existing buildings; change of use and works including extension and associated alterations to buildings Q13 and Q14 including landscaping and public realm, and primary and secondary accesses to the site.

The proposal sought planning permission for a hybrid application comprising, in outline: development of business space (use classes B1a/b/c) of up to 27,773 sqm GEA; works within the X enclave relating to energetic testing operations, including fencing, access, car parking; development of up to 635 residential dwellings; development of a mixed use village centre (use classes A1/A3/A4/A5/B1a/D1/D2); land safeguarded for a primary school; change of use of Fort Area and bunkers to Historic Interpretation Centre (use class D1) with workshop space and; associated landscaping, works and infrastructure. In detail: demolition of existing buildings; change of use and works including extension and associated alterations to buildings Q13 and Q14 including landscaping and public realm, and primary and secondary accesses to the site.

The application had been referred to the Committee at the discretion of the Chief Planning Officer, as the development was of a significant and sensitive nature.

The Development Manager set out the history to the application and Members’ attention was brought to the main agenda papers and late observation sheet which corrected the reported S106 Head of terms, clarified provision for affordable housing and amended the recommended conditions.

The Committee was addressed by the following speakers:

Members asked questions of clarification from the speakers and officer which centred around water supply (managed by conditions) Heavy Good Vehicles (HGVs) movements and the build time. It was confirmed that the build would be in phased developments and the transport assessment had taken into account a best and worst case scenario with HGV movements. As it was a phased development, any Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) payments would also be phased. In response to further questions Members were advised that the legal agreement allowed for additional contributions for affordable housing if the viability changed in the future.

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

Members discussed the application giving consideration to the answers from questions of clarification and that planning permission had previously been granted on the site. Members discussed the conditions surrounding the water supply and sewage and traffic movements.

The motion was put to the vote and it was

Resolved:  That if the requirements of resolution A below are not met, resolution B be followed:

A) That planning permission be granted subject to

i)      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

ii)     A satisfactory legal agreement made under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) being completed no later than 31 January 2023, unless in accordance with a new timescale otherwise agreed in writing by the Chief Officer for Planning and Regulatory Services. Except to the extent that the Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Officer for Planning and Regulatory  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59.