Replace the glass panels above the Link, take down and removal of existing single canopies at street level.

The proposal sought permission for the replacement of the glass panels above the link and to take down and remove the existing canopies at street level at the New Ash Green Shopping Centre. 

The application was referred to the Committee at the request of Councillors Clark and Pearsall on the basis that removing the canopies would have a detrimental impact on services and facilities provided in the village centre, did not support the viability and vitality of the shopping centre or encourage good design and would fail to ensure that the village centre retained its role in meeting local needs

The Committee was addressed by the following speakers:

Members asked questions of clarification from speakers and officers.

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

Members discussed the impact of the first proposed condition that development must be begun within three years and discussed concerns that delay in implementing the permission could result in continued harm to the visual amenity.

It was moved by Cllr. Mrs. Hunter, and duly seconded, that the recommendations be amended so that condition 1 would require development to commence before the expiration of six months from the date of the permission. The amendment was put to the vote and it was carried.

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

It was moved by Cllr. Clark and duly seconded that the application be refused on the ground that the removal of the existing single canopies at street level would fail to promote and improve the environment of the village centre, as required by NPPF para 23 and Core Strategy Policy SP1, resulting in the loss of a facility that supported the continuation and regeneration of a viable local service centre which would meet modern business needs, contrary to Core Strategy Policies SP8 and L07 and Policies EN1 and EN2 of the Allocations and Development Management Plan.

Members were concerned that the canopies at street level had been installed to assist the viability and vitality of shops on the south side of the site, allowing members of the public to browse shops from outside. They noted the survey of the Parish Council representative that the south side was important as it was almost exclusively the side now used.

The motion was put to the vote and it was

Resolved: That planning permission be refused for the following reasons:

1)   The removal of the existing single canopies at street level would fail to promote and improve the environment of the village centre, as required by NPPF para 23 and Core Strategy Policy SP1, resulting in the loss of a facility that supports the continuation and regeneration of a viable local service centre which will meet modern business needs, contrary to Core Strategy Policies SP8 and L07 and Policies EN1 and EN2 of the Allocations and Development Management Plan.

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