Erection of a detached 2 bedroom bungalow. Provision of two off street parking spaces and a refuse storage area.

The proposal was for the erection of a detached 2-bedroom bungalow with provision for two off street parking spaces and a refuse storage area to the front. The site currently formed part of the residential curtilage of Alandene.

The report advised that in July 2012 planning permission had been refused for a different 2-bedroom bungalow with new access. On balance the combination of revisions since then had overcome the reasons for refusal.

A Late Observations sheet had been tabled for the item. It was noted that a Members’ Site Inspection had been held for this application. There were no public speakers.

It was MOVED by the Chairman and was duly seconded that the recommendation in the report, as amended by the Late Observations Sheet, to grant permission subject to conditions be adopted.

The local Member noted the comments of the Parish Council.

Members felt the application still had a detrimental effect on the residential amenity of future residents of Alandene. Although the total residential amenity area looked acceptable, the space was distributed and in an awkward shape.

It was suggested the proposal would be more prominent than the previously refused application, despite its smaller footprint, because of the increased height.

The access route was criticised, particularly as it would be serving as many as 8 properties. The turn onto the A225 could be difficult. The track was so narrow that vehicles could not pass each other.

Some Members considered the proposal to be an overdevelopment of the site, it would create a terracing effect and it would take the last of the open spaces on that road.

The motion was put to the vote and there voted –

4 votes in favour of the motion

8 votes against the motion

The Chairman declared the vote to have been LOST. It was MOVED by Cllr. McGarvey and was duly seconded that permission be refused. This would be on grounds of: loss of residential amenity to neighbours; lack of residential amenities to the site itself; the bulk, height, scale of the building, as defined by the height of the dwelling, the infilling and terracing effect; and that the proposal would harm the distinctive character of the area.

It was agreed that the highway concerns, in particular the suitability of extra traffic using the junction with the A225, would be added for information. The local Member was aware that the Highways Authority had provided incorrect data concerning the number of properties served by the track and recalled accidents at the site to which Kent County Council had not referred.

The motion was put to the vote and it was –

Resolved: That planning permission be REFUSED for the following reasons:-

1.             The proposal would result in an overdevelopment of the site by virtue of its, size, bulk and roof height and would appear a cramped form of development, out of character with the established pattern of development in the locality. The proposal would therefore be contrary to policy EN1 of the Sevenoaks District Plan and SP1 of the Sevenoaks Core Strategy.

2.             The proposal would not ensure a satisfactory environment for future occupants in terms of amenity space contrary to policy EN1 of the Sevenoaks District Plan and SP1 of the Sevenoaks Core Strategy.

3.             As a result of the application proposal, the neighbouring property Alandene would appear as a cramped form of development within an insufficient plot and would not benefit from a satisfactory environment for future occupants in terms of amenity space. It would therefore be out of keeping with the established pattern of development in the locality contrary to policy EN1 of the Sevenoaks District Plan and SP1 of the Sevenoaks Core Strategy.  

Informative:

Whilst Kent Highway Services raised no objection to the development as a Statutory Consultee, the Development Control Planning Committee and local members, due to their local knowledge of vehicular movements and highway issues in the area were concerned in regard to highway safety and the impact of the increase in traffic this development would cause using this narrow access onto  the busy Eynsford Road (A225).