Erection of a boundary fence (retrospective).

The application had been referred to the Development Control committee at the discretion of the Chief Planning Officer on the grounds of the controversial nature of this retrospective planning application.

Members’ attention was brought to the main agenda papers and the late observations which did not change the recommendation before the Committee.

The Committee was addressed by the following speakers:

Against the Application:        Mrs. Kirker

For the Application:               Mr. Barrett 

Parish Representative:          -

Local Member:                       -

Members asked questions of clarification from the speakers and officers.

It was moved by the Chairman and duly seconded that the recommendation the agenda to grant planning permission be agreed.

Members discussed whether the application was acceptable in an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) and whether the application would enhance or preserve the neighbouring listed building. Some Members thought the fence had an unacceptable impact on the AONB and that it would appear as a close-boarded urban fence in a rural setting. Some Members thought that there would be little impact on the AONB as other properties had similar fences and that there was a condition for landscaping and planting around the fence.

In response to a question the Development Control Team Manager advised that by landscaping around the fence it would enhance the AONB from the addition of hedging where there currently was not any. The Conservation Officer had also not objected to the application.

The motion was put to the vote and it was lost.

It was moved and duly seconded that the application should be refused as the fence did not preserve or enhance the ANOB and would harm the setting of a listed building. Members advised that a Green chain link fence with a native species hedge grown through it would provide natural and immediate containment. Any such hedge should not grow to more than 1.8meters and the planting should be of natural English plants.

The motion was put to vote and it was

Resolved: The planning permission be refused for the following reasons

1)    The development results in harm to the setting of the listed building through the introduction of an urban feature surrounding the Listed Building, which will neither preserve or enhance the setting of the Listed Building.  As such the development is contrary to policy EN4 of the Sevenoaks Allocations and Development Management Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework.

2)    The development results in harm to the landscape character of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty through the introduction of an urban feature in the open countryside. The fence will neither conserve or enhance the landscape character of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. As such the development is contrary to policy EN5 of the Sevenoaks Allocations and Development Management Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework.

Informatives

1)        Working in line with the NPPF, the application was refused as the proposal failed to improve the economic, social or environmental conditions of the area.

2)        The applicant is advised that Members of the Development Control Committee consider a green chain link hedge which would provide immediate containment and that any hedge planted should not grow higher than 1.8m high.  It is suggested that only native and traditional hedgerow species should be planted and that neither leylandii or fir trees should be planted.