To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 26 September 2024, as a correct record.

Resolved: That the Minutes of the Development Management Committee held on the 26 September 2024 be approved signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Including any interests not already registered

Cllr. Ball declared for Minute 29 – 24/01832/FUL Field West Of Junction with Rays Hill, Eglantine Lane, Horton Kirby Kent DA4 9JL that he was at the Parish Council meeting where the item had been considered but he remained open minded.

Cllr Camp declared for Minute 28 –21/01254/FUL Sevenoaks Gasholder Station, Cramptons Road, Sevenoaks KENT TN14 5ES that she was a member of the Town Council and Chaired the meeting where this item was also considered but remained open minded.

Cllrs. Granville and Shea declared for Minute 28 - 21/01254/FUL Sevenoaks Gasholder Station, Cramptons Road, Sevenoaks KENT TN14 5ES that they were members of the Town Council who had previously considered this item  but they remained open minded.

All Councillors declared they had been lobbied on item 21/01254/FUL Sevenoaks Gasholder Station, Cramptons Road, Sevenoaks KENT TN14 5ES.

All Councillors also declared they had been lobbied on item 24/01832/FUL Field West Of Junction with Rays Hill, Eglantine Lane, Horton Kirby Kent DA4 9JL as they received additional printed photographs from a speaker as the meeting began.

UNRESERVED PLANNING APPLICATIONS

There were no public speakers against the following items and no Member reserved the item for debate, therefore, in accordance with Part 7.3(e ) of the constitution the following matters were considered without debate:

The proposal sought Planning Permission to raise the ridge height to add a first floor side dormer, two storey rear extension with Juliette balcony, render first floor, move front door to front elevation and add a porch together with changes to fenestration.

The application had been referred to the committee by Cllr. Grint due to concerns over the design of the proposals and whether these complied with Policy EN1 of the Allocations and Development Management Plan.

It was moved from the Chair that the recommendation as set out within the report be agreed.

Resolved: That 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 materials to be used in the construction of the development shall be those indicated on the approved plan 819-03 Rev B.

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 and details: Location Plan; 819-01 Rev B; 819-03 Rev B; application form.

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

4)            Notwithstanding the approved drawings, the first floor windows in both the north-west and south-east facing side elevations of the development hereby permitted shall be glazed with obscure glass of no less than obscurity level 3 and permanently fixed shut, unless the parts of the window/s which can be opened are more than 1.7 metres above the floor of the room in which the window is installed and shall thereafter be permanently retained as such.

To safeguard the amenities of the occupiers of neighbouring properties as supported by Policy EN2 of the Sevenoaks Allocations and Development Management Plan.

5)        The development hereby approved shall not be occupied until the access has been fully implemented in accordance with the details approved under planning permission 22/03251/HOUSE and the proposed parking spaces provided. The access and parking shall be retained as approved thereafter.

To ensure that the development does not prejudice highway safety or cause inconvenience to other highway users in accordance with Policy EN1 of the Sevenoaks Allocations and Development Management Plan.

RESERVED PLANNING APPLICATIONS

The Committee considered the following planning applications:

The proposal sought Planning Permission for the construction of a residential development of 136 dwellings, new vehicular accesses from Otford Road and Crampton's Road, associated parking, landscaping, drainage, boundary treatments and earthworks.

The application had been referred to the committee at the discretion of the Chief Planning Officer as the development was of significant nature being a large major development which had complex and sensitive issues.

Members’ attention was brought to the agenda papers and late observation sheet which amended Condition 2 and Condition 6.

The Committee was addressed by the following speakers:

Members asked questions of clarification of the speakers and officers with a focus on the associated contamination and pollution risks, the affordable housing allocation, the Neighbour Plan and National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) implications and size of the development.

The speaker clarified that they had liaised with South East Water and the Environment Agency. Officers explained that the conditions proposed by the Environment Agency had been included in the recommendation and the developer would be liable for any water contamination they caused. A condition had also been included to reduce light pollution from any window on or above the fifth storey.

It was further clarified that a viability assessment had been carried out which indicated that no affordable housing would be provided however the developer has offered to provide eight affordable housing units. Members also asked about the role of the Sevenoaks Town Neighbourhood Plan which had recently been adopted; Officers explained that while it was right to give weight to it, we needed to ensure compliance with the NPPF and in particular to consider the para.11(d) tilted balance presumption in favour of development, which was engaged due to the need for additional housing in the district.

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

Members discussed the proposal giving consideration to the size and density of the development.

The Committee acknowledged that the district had an acute housing need and while the outcome of the viability assessment would not recommend the provision of affordable housing, the proposal had allocated affordable housing for residents in the district which was welcomed by Members. Members considered the impact of the bulk and scale of the proposed development and in particular the 10-storey rotunda, as well as its design and considered this against the tilted balance in the NPPF. Members commended the use of a brownfield site for the development and appreciated the inclusion of a play area within the proposal as a welcome community amenity.

The recommendation was put to the vote and it was

Resolved:

A)     That planning permission be GRANTED subject to:

a) The conditions set out below, subject to any minor changes to wording being agreed by the Chief Officer for Planning and Regulatory Services, and

b) A satisfactory legal agreement being made under Section 106 of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

The proposal sought Planning Permission for the relocation of Highway Access including associated Hard & Soft Landscaping.

The application had been referred to the committee by Cllr White as there were concerns that the position of the access and degree of hard surfacing would adversely affect the greenbelt.

Members attention was brought to the agenda papers and late observation sheet which imposed additional condition 12.

The committee was addressed by the following speakers:

Questions of clarification were asked of the speakers and Officers with a focus on current site use and the impact of the proposal on the greenbelt and surrounding areas and the safety concerns.

It was clarified that there was a condition within the recommendation to make good the location of the previous access to be in keeping with the surroundings and confirmed that the fencing was outside the scope of the application.

The speaker clarified that access way was currently located on a straight road and there had only been a small number of minor incidents in recent years.

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

Members discussed the application giving consideration to the conditions for remedial works to the existing entrance and it was discussed that the proposed entrance would be less discrete. Concerns were raised regarding the necessity to move the entrance and possible obstructions in the proposed new access.

The motion was put 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: 2309074-01 A, and 2023-1339v3-LocBlock

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

3) No development shall be carried out on the land until full details of soft landscape works have been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. Those details shall include: -planting plans (identifying existing planting, plants to be retained and new planting); -a schedule of new plants (noting species, size of stock at time of planting and proposed number/densities); and-a programme of implementation including any necessary protection measures during construction. Only the approved details shall be carried out in the planting season following the completion of the development hereby granted. 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.

To preserve the visual appearance of the area as supported by EN1 of the Sevenoaks Allocations and Development Management Plan.

4) No development shall commence until a Biodiversity Gain Plan and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29.