Construction of a multi storey car park on surface of existing car park to provide three levels (ground, first & second) of decked parking.

 

The proposal was for construction of a multi storey car park on the surface of an existing car park to provide three levels (ground, first and second) of decked parking.  It had been referred to Committee because the Council was both the applicant and the landowner.

 

Members’ attention was brought to the main agenda papers and the first and second late observations sheets, which set out further representations received and recommended an additional condition following a further representation from Kent Highways, to control construction deliveries and site parking.

 

The Committee was addressed by the following speakers:

 

Against the Application:            Adam Oliver

For the Application:                  -

Parish Representative:              Cllr. Schneider

Local Members:                        Cllr. Clack

                                               Cllr. Fleming

 

Members asked questions of clarification from the speakers and officers.

 

It was moved by the Chairman and duly seconded that the recommendations in the agenda, as amended by the late observations sheet, be agreed.

 

Members discussed the impact of the development on the neighbouring amenity at The Acorns, the design and scale of the proposals and the character of the area, the impact on air quality, the level of parking required in Sevenoaks, the Transport Assessment and whether the congestion impact would become severe.

 

The 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)    No development shall be carried out on the land until samples of the materials to be used in the construction of the external surfaces of the building hereby permitted have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Council. The development shall be carried out using the approved materials.   The Local Planning Authority is satisfied that it is fundamental to the development permitted to address this issue before development commences and that without this safeguard planning permission should not be granted.

 

      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)    No development shall commence until the tree protection measures have been installed in full, as set out in the Arboricultural Implications Assessment by Higginson Associates. The approved measures shall be retained on site for the duration of the development, and no works, storage or activities within a protected area shall take place unless specifically set out in the above report or agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

 

      To protect existing trees on site, in order to safeguard the character of the area and soften the impact of the development, in accordance with Policy EN1 of the Sevenoaks Allocations and Development Management Plan.

 

4)   Notwithstanding the submitted plans, no trees shall be removed on the site other than those specifically shown for removal on the Tree Protection Plan submitted with the Arboricultural Implications Assessment by Higginson Associates, unless agreed otherwise in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

 

      For the avoidance of doubt and in order to safeguard the character of the area and soften the impact of the development, in accordance with Policy EN1 of the Sevenoaks Allocations and Development Management Plan.

 

5)     Notwithstanding the submitted information, the building hereby permitted shall not be used as a car park until full details of soft landscape works have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Council.  Those details shall include:-planting plans (identifying existing planting, plants to be retained and new planting);-a schedule of new plants (noting species, size of stock at time of planting and proposed number/densities); and-a programme of implementation. The landscape works shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details. If within a period of five years from the completion of the development, any of the trees or plants that form part of the approved details of soft landscaping die, are removed or become seriously damaged or diseased then they shall be replaced in the next planting season with others of similar size and species. The Local Planning Authority is satisfied that it is fundamental to the development permitted to address this issue before development commences and that without this safeguard planning permission should not be granted.

 

      To safeguard the visual appearance of the area as supported by Policy EN1 of the Sevenoaks Allocations and Development Management Plan.

 

6)   The car park hereby permitted shall not be used for vehicle parking until the implementation of a scheme for the closure of the public car park known as the Sennocke car park on Hitchen Hatch Lane and the removal of 70 existing season ticket permits for commuters on Mount Harry Road and Hitchen Hatch Lane, the details of which shall have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority prior to such first use. If the Sennocke car park is re-opened as a car park in the future, then the equivalent number of spaces in the multi storey car park hereby permitted shall be removed from use.

     

      To accord with the terms of the application, and to prevent an accumulation of parking spaces in the area, which would add to traffic generation and impacts in the area and has not been considered in the Transport Assessment submitted with the application, in accordance with policies SP2 of the Core Strategy, EN1 and T1 of the Sevenoaks Allocations and Development Management Plan.

 

7)   Prior to first use of the car park, a minimum of 12 disabled parking spaces (to include a 1.2 metre safety and access zone to the side and rear of each space) shall be provided and marked out on the ground floor of the site, unless justification for a smaller number has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The spaces shall thereafter be maintained for disabled parking.

 

      To provide safe and easy access for those with disabilities, in accordance with Policy EN1 of the Sevenoaks Allocations and Development Management Plan.

 

8)   Prior to first use of the car park, a minimum of 2 electric charging points shall be provided and maintained within the car park, and infrastructure shall be provided to accommodate an additional 8 future charging points.

 

      To encourage the use of low emission vehicles, in accordance with Policy T3 of the Sevenoaks Allocations and Development Management Plan.

 

9)   No development shall take place until a remediation strategy, based on the findings and recommendations of the Ground Investigation Report by Geo Environmental, to deal with the risks associated with potential contamination of the site has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The strategy shall include a discovery strategy should contamination be found that was not previously identified in the Ground Investigation Report. The scheme shall be implemented as approved.

 

      In order to ensure that potential contamination is treated appropriately, in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework.

 

10) The car park hereby permitted shall not be used until a verification report, demonstrating completion of works set out in the approved remediation strategy, has been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. The report shall include evidence to demonstrate that the remediation criteria have been met.

 

      In order to ensure that potential contamination is treated appropriately, in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework.

 

11) No lighting shall be installed to the car park hereby permitted, unless full details of such lighting together with evidence to demonstrate that it would conform with the limitations in table 2 (based on an E3 Environmental Zone) of the Guidance Notes for the Reduction of Obtrusive Light by the Institute of Lighting Professionals, 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 and maintained as such thereafter.

 

      To avoid unnecessary light pollution and unacceptable impacts upon neighbouring properties, in accordance with policies EN2 and EN6 of the Sevenoaks Allocations and Development Management Plan.

 

12) The development hereby permitted shall incorporate measures to minimise the risk of crime. No development shall take place until details of such measures, according to the principles and physical security requirements of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The approved measures shall be implemented before the development is occupied and thereafter retained.

 

      In the interest of Security, Crime Prevention and Community Safety and in accordance with Policy EN1 of the Sevenoaks Allocations and Development Management Plan.

 

13) The disposal of surface water shall be undertaken in full accordance with the drainage details provided by CTP and submitted with the application, unless otherwise approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The car park shall not be used until such measures have been installed in full.

 

      To ensure appropriate drainage is provided for the development, in accordance with Policy EN1 of the Sevenoaks Allocations and Development Management Plan.

 

14) The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans: BRA-BBA-ZO-ZZ-DR-A-01001 D5 Rev P2, BRA-BBA-ZO-ZZ-DR-A-01002 S2 Rev P, BRA-BBA-ZO-GF-DR-A-02001 D5 Rev P3, BRA-BBA-ZO-01-DR-A-02001 D5 Rev P3, BRA-BBA-ZO-ZZ-DR-A-03001 D5 Rev P4, BRA-BBA-ZO-ZZ-DR-A-03002 D5 Rev P4 and BRA-BBA-ZO-ZZ-DR-A-04002 D5 Rev P4

     

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

 

15) Before development commences, a scheme of measures to promote alternative forms of transport to access Sevenoaks train station, other than by motor car, shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. Such measures shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.

 

      To promote alternative forms of travel as part of an overall package of travel options for users of Sevenoaks Train station, in accordance with Policy SP2 of the Sevenoaks Core Strategy. 

 

16) No development shall take place, including any works of demolition, until a Construction Method Statement has been submitted to, and approved in writing by, the local planning authority. The approved Statement shall be adhered to throughout the construction period. The Statement shall provide for:

- the parking of vehicles of site operatives and visitors

- loading and unloading of plant and materials

- timings of deliveries

- storage of plant and materials used in constructing the development

 

To control the impact of the development on the public highway and in the interests of highways safety, in accordance with Policy EN1 of the Sevenoaks Allocations and Development Management Plan.