Convert and reconfigure an existing agricultural barn into stables, tack room and hay store. Construct a new private sand school for home and personal use.

The proposal sought planning permission for the converting and reconfigure an existing agricultural barn into stables, tack room and hay store. Construct a new private sand school for home and personal use. The application had been referred to the Committee by Cllr Silander due to the net loss of biodiversity due to the previous clearing of the application site and the conflicting reports based on designation and location of the SSSI and Impact Risk Zone.

Members’ attention was brought to the main agenda papers and late observation sheet which did not amend the recommendation.

The Committee was addressed by the following speakers:

Members asked questions of clarification from the speakers and officer. It was confirmed by the officer that the monitoring of the biodiversity was required by condition for the 30 year period and that it had to be at least a 20% increase.

It was moved by the Chairman and duly seconded that the recommendations within the report, be agreed.

Members discussed the application and it was suggested that an additional condition should be included for the site to go back to its previous condition should the sand school no longer be required.

The amendment was moved, seconded and debated. The motion was put to the vote and it was agreed.

The substantive 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 materials to be used in the construction of the external surfaces of the proposed stable/tack room and hay store hereby permitted shall match those used on the existing building. The materials to be used in the construction of the proposed sand school hereby permitted shall match those stated on plan number DHA/16635/12.

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: DHA/16635/01, DHA/16635/10, DHA/16635/11, DHA/16635/12, DHA/16635/13.

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

4) No development shall commence until a Biodiversity Gain Plan and Biodiversity Management and Monitoring Plan to ensure that there is a 20% net gain in biodiversity within a 30 year period as a result of the development have been submitted to and agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  The Biodiversity Management and Monitoring Plan shall include 30-year objectives, management responsibilities, maintenance schedules and a methodology to ensure the submission of monitoring reports.

Monitoring reports shall be submitted to the Council during years 2, 5, 10, 20 and 30 from commencement of development unless otherwise stated in the Biodiversity Management and Monitoring Plan, demonstrating how the BNG is progressing towards achieving its objectives, evidence of arrangements and any rectifying measures needed.

The Biodiversity Management and Monitoring Plan shall also include details of the legal and funding mechanism(s) by which the long-term implementation of the plan will be secured by the developer with the management body(ies) responsible for its delivery.

To ensure the development does not result in a loss of biodiversity to the site, as supported by Policy SP11 of the Sevenoaks Core Strategy.

5) No development shall take place until an Arboricultural Method Statement (detailing all aspects of construction and staging of works) and a Tree Protection Plan in accordance with British Standard 5837:2012 (or later revision) has been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. The development shall be carried out in accordance with the agreed details and no equipment, machinery or materials shall be brought onto the site for the purposes of the development until fencing has been erected in accordance with the Tree Protection Plan. Within any area fenced in accordance with this condition, nothing shall be stored, placed or disposed of above or below ground, the ground level shall not be altered, no excavations shall be made, nor shall any fires be lit, without the prior written consent of the local planning authority. The fencing shall be maintained in accordance with the approved details, until all equipment, machinery and surplus materials have been moved from the site.

To protect the landscaping on the application site, as supported by Policy EN1 of the Sevenoaks Allocations and Development Management Plan.

6) No external lighting or mirrors shall be installed on the site or affixed to any buildings on the site unless the local planning authority has approved in writing details of the position, height, design and measures to control light spillage and intensity of illumination of the lights. Only the approved details shall be installed thereafter.

To protect the biodiversity on the application site, as supported by Policy SP11 of the Sevenoaks Core Strategy.

7) The development hereby permitted shall only be used for the private stabling of horses and the storage of associated equipment and feed in relation to the host dwelling 'Coles Farm' and shall at no time be used for any business or commercial purpose whatsoever, including for livery, or in connection with equestrian tuition or leisure rides.

In the interests of highway safety and to protect the character of the area, openness of the Metropolitan Green Belt and the living conditions of nearby residents in accordance with Policies EN1, EN2 and LT2 of the Sevenoaks Allocations and Development Management Plan.

8) No development shall take place until details of the mitigation measures to protect the adjacent Site of Special Scientific Interest have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  Details shall include a detailed design and maintenance demonstrating how the sand will not enter the Site of Special Scientific Interest. The development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details at all times.

To ensure the protection of the Site of Special Scientific Interest, as supported by Policy SP11 of the Sevenoaks Core Strategy.

9) The proposed development shall be carried out in accordance with the mitigation measures detailed within the submitted Ecological Impact Assessment Report at all times.

To ensure the protection of the Site of Special Scientific Interest, as supported by Policy SP11 of the Sevenoaks Core Strategy.

10) No development shall take place until a construction environmental management plan has been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. The development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details at all times.

To protect the biodiversity on the application site, as supported by Policy SP11 of the Sevenoaks Core Strategy.

11) In the event of the sand school is no longer needed or used, then the sand school shall be dismantled and all the arisings removed from the application area.  The land shall thereafter be returned to its former condition, as grassland as part of the Local Wildlife Site.

In the interests of the biodiversity and policy SP11 of the Sevenoaks Core Strategy.