Demolition of existing buildings and redevelopment of the site as a foodstore with vehicular access improvement, widening of public footway, extension of public cycleway, servicing, car parking areas and landscaping

The proposal was for the demolition of the existing buildings and redevelopment of the site to provide a food store with a gross external floor area of 2,170 sqm, with 160sqm to be on the first floor. 90% of the sales area was to be for convenience goods with the remaining 10% for comparison goods. The main vehicular access for customers was to be from St Johns Way with 122 car parking spaces, spaces for motorbikes and 10 dedicated cycle parking racks. The store would be in the north west corner of the site with the service area to the north and east of it.

Part of the west boundary and part of the south boundary adjoined residential development in St Johns Way and Paddock Close. A pair of semi-detached houses was being constructed opposite.

The site was part of an area of protected employment land. Part of the site benefited from planning permission for Class B1 (c) light industrial, Class B2 general industrial and Class B8 storage or distribution. The other part was occupied as Class B2 general industrial use.  There were 14 FTE jobs on site and the permitted development could allow a further 24 FTE. The proposed development would generate 100 FTE.

The report advised that the application did not comply with policy as it had not been proven that there was no reasonable prospect of the site’s take up or continued use for business purposes during the Core Strategy period. It was still occupied. However the proposal would generate an increase in employment. The proposal also provided an opportunity for other planning benefits at Edenbridge (such as an increased choice and range of goods within the town) without a significant adverse impact on the town centre vitality and viability and trade in the town centre.

The Officer displayed photographs of the site and described each elevation of the proposal.

The Committee was addressed by the following speakers:

Against the Application:       Stuart MacGregor

For the Application:              Paul Carter

Parish Representative:         Cllr. Davison

Local Member:                      -

The Chairman drew Members’ attention to the Late Observations, including the statement from the Local Member. It was noted that a Members’ Site Inspection had been held for this application.

Officers responded to Members’ questions. The Officer from Kent Highways had considered the effect on visibility from the dwellings opposite and it was considered acceptable as they were set back 2m. Fifteen out of every sixteen pedestrians using the Station Road footway continued on to Edenbridge rather than turn into St Johns Way and so it was safer not to have the principal entrance to the store either on Station Road or on the roundabout. The best route for delivery vehicles appeared to be from the south using the A264.

Officers advised that Members’ support for application SE/13/00134/FUL meant that the report on the present application needed to be reconsidered. That other application had to be referred to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government due to the size of the development. Officers requested that the present application be deferred for a further report after the decision of the Secretary of State.

It was MOVED by the Chairman and was duly seconded that the item be deferred for a further report from Officers after the decision of the Secretary of State.

Resolved: That consideration of the application be deferred for a further report from Officers following the decision of the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on application SE/13/00134/FUL.