To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 20 June 2024, as a correct record.

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held 20 June 2024 be approved, and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Including any interests not already registered

Cllr. Bayley declared for Minute 17 – 24/00576/FUL – 28 London Road, Riverhead, Kent TN13 7NU that she was the Ward Member for the area, but that she remained open minded.

Cllrs Ball, Barker, P. Darrington, Granville, Hudson, Malone, Purves, Shea, Williams, and Williamson declared that they had been lobbied in respect of Minute 15 – 24/01461/HOUSE – 9 Bond Close, Knockholt, Kent TN14 7NB but that they remained open minded.

Cllrs Ball and Hudson declared that they had been lobbied in respect of Minute 16 – 24/01558/HOUSE – The Mount, Main Road, Knockholt, Kent TN14 7NU but that they remained open minded.

Removal of existing shed. Infill ground floor front, rear extension, garage conversion to habitable space, first floor side extension, and installation of roof solar panels and rooflights.

The proposal sought planning permission for the removal of existing shed, infill ground floor front, rear extension, garage conversion to habitable space, first floor side extension, and installation of roof solar panels and rooflights. The application had been referred to the committee by Cllr Grint for consideration of overdevelopment at the site.  

Members attention was brought to the main agenda papers.

The Committee was addressed by the following speakers:

Members asked questions of clarification of the officers. The officer explained that the extension had passed loss of light tests for the neighbour’s stairwell window. The development was consistent in size and form of other developments in the area.

It was moved by the Chairman from the chair that the recommendations within the report, be agreed.

Members discussed the application, giving consideration to the similarity of the development to others in the area. They noted that the extension to the rear was inoffensive to the street scene, and that the scale of the development was appropriate for modern life.

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) Prior to the commencement of development above damp-proof course, details of the external materials to be used for the development shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority.  The development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.

To ensure that the appearance of the development is in harmony with the existing character of the house and 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: PLN06, PLN07, PLN08, PLN09, PLN10

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

National Planning Policy Framework

In dealing with this application, we have implemented the requirements in the National Planning Policy Framework to work with the applicant/agent in a positive, proactive and creative way by offering a pre-application advice service as appropriate updating applicants/agents of any issues that may arise in the processing of their application and where possible and if applicable suggesting solutions to secure a successful outcome. We have considered the application in light of our statutory policies in our development plan as set out in the officer’s report.

Demolition of existing shed and erection of a double storey side extension with Juliet Balcony. Removal of two chimneys. New portico porch. Alterations to fenestration, Internal alterations and alterations to roof.

The proposal sought planning permission for the demolition of existing shed and erection of a double storey side extension with Juliet Balcony, the removal of two chimneys, a new portico porch, alterations to fenestration, internal alterations and alterations to roof. The application had been referred to the committee by Cllr Grint on the grounds of the potential impacts of the proposal on the Green Belt, National Landscape and neighbouring amenity.

Members attention was directed to the main agenda papers and the late observations, which proposed an additional condition for the recommendation.

The Committee was addressed by the following speakers:

Members asked questions of clarification of the speakers and the officer. The Juliet balcony window would be glazed, and would not have a full-height view. The front windows would be small, in keeping with the street scene. It was identified that there was an error in the internal layout plans and that internal access to the flower room would be required. It was suggested that this be addressed, should planning permission be granted, through an additional condition which would require the submission of amended interior plans for approval.

It was moved by the Chairman from the chair that the recommendations within the report, the additional condition within the late observations, and a further additional condition requiring that amended internal plans be submitted for approval by officers prior to the commencement of development.

Members discussed the proposal. They gave consideration to the issue in the layout plans.  They discussed the design of the proposal, noting that it was sympathetic with neighbouring properties and the area. Some members expressed concerns regarding the flat roof of the extension, as it was not an element of the local design and the area was an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Members noted that the flat roof and the Juliet balcony were to the rear of the property and would not impact the street scene of the AONB.

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: 2023-069 101; 2023-069 106 F; 2023 104 E; 2023-069 103 D; application forms.

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

3) Prior to any development above the damp proof course, details and samples of the external materials to be used for the development, including the arrangement of materials across the existing and proposed elevations, shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. The samples shall include a full sample panel of the flint finish which can be viewed on site, to allow  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

Conversion of existing 3 bed flat with single storey rear extension, to 2 x one-bedroom flats and 1 x two-bedroom flat including alterations to retaining wall. New external wc's for commercial unit.

The proposal sought planning permission for the conversion of existing 3 bed flat with single storey rear extension, to 2 x one-bedroom flats and 1 x two-bedroom flat including alterations to retaining wall, and new external wc's for commercial unit. The application had been referred to the committee by Cllr Clack for consideration of the impact of the development on parking.

Members’ attention was directed to the main agenda 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 speakers and officers. The speakers explained that cyclists may face difficulties entering the road from the development due to heavy traffic. The development was 0.9 miles from Sevenoaks train station and 1.2 miles from Bat & Ball station. The supporting steels were not separate structures, despite being visible at the rear and having their own foundations. The cycle storage area would also house bins and commercial bins; a condition mandating the inclusion of sufficient cycle storage was included in the recommendation. The site was considered “edge of centre” in regard to Policy T2, meaning there was a maximum of 1 parking space per unit with no minimum.

It was moved by the Chairman from the chair that the recommendations within the report be agreed.

Members discussed the application, giving consideration to parking in the area. They discussed the risk that the lack of parking provision may exacerbate existing parking troubles in the area. It was noted however that the existing building did not provide parking, and there was no objection from the Highways Authority on the issue. They gave consideration to the site’s good access to schools, retail, and public transport.

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: 23099 P400 (Proposed Sections), 23099 P200 rev. P2 (Proposed Floor Plans), 23099 P450 rev. P2 (Proposed Elevations), 23099 P150 rev. P1 (Proposed Site Plan), 23099 P451 (Existing and Proposed Elevations
Retaining Wall Zone), 23099 E001 (Existing Site Location Plan), 23099 P001 (Design and Access Statement), application form dated 01/03/2024 (excluding site address) and Application Form (revised address)(version 2018.1)

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

3) No development shall take place until details of all external materials (including but not limited to, walls, roof, windows, rooflights and doors), have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.

To maintain the integrity and character of the Conservation  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.