Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Barrett, Buckwell, Howcroft-Scott, McDonald and Potter.

During this period, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, it was informally agreed between the two political groups to run Medway Council meetings with a reduced number of participants. This was to reduce risk, comply with Government guidance and enable more efficient meetings. Therefore, the apologies given reflects that informal agreement of reduced participants.

To approve the record of the meeting held on 12 January 2022.

The record of the meeting held on 12 January 2022 was agreed and signed by the Chairman as correct. 

Attention was drawn to the following:

Minute 592 - Planning application – MC/21/2065 – Land adjoining 35 Cooling Road, High Halstow, Rochester)

Referring to the supplementary agenda advice sheet, attention was drawn to Minute 592 (Planning application MC/21/2065 – Land adjoining 35 Cooling Road, High Halstow, Rochester) and the Committee was requested to agree that as well as applying conditions as set out on the supplementary agenda advice sheet and set out below, a deed of variation to the Section 106 agreement previously entered into with the original application also be approved so that the requirement for plots to be self-build would also apply to this particular application. The Committee was also requested to note that the bird contribution had now been paid.

Decision:

The Committee approved the deed of variation to the Section 106 agreement so that the requirement for plots to be self-build would also apply to this particular application and the following conditions:

1          Approval of the details of the layout, scale and appearance of the buildings and the landscaping (hereinafter called "the reserved matters") shall be obtained from the Local Planning Authority in writing before any development is commenced.

            Reason:  To accord with the terms of the submitted application and to ensure that these details are satisfactory.

 2         Plans and particulars of the reserved matters referred to in Condition 1 above shall be submitted in writing to the Local Planning Authority for approval.  Such application for approval shall be made to the Authority before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission and the reserved matters shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.

            Reason:  To comply with Section 92 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

 3         The development to which this permission relates must be begun no later than the expiration of 2 years from the final approval of the reserved matters or in the case of approval on different dates, the final approval of the last such matter to be approved.

            Reason:  To comply with Section 92 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

 4         The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans:

            Received on the 12 July 2021:

20/24/SK03 Rev A (For the purpose of the access only)

20/24/SK05 Rev A (For the purposes of the common areas)

5704-LLB-XX-XX-DR-L-0001 Rev PO2 (Purpose of common areas and the northern and eastern boundaries)

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

5          Prior to first occupation of any dwelling a Landscape Management Plan (LMP) for the common area within the site shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The Landscape Management Plan shall include long-term design objectives, management responsibilities and maintenance schedules for all landscape areas held within these common areas, the boundary with Cooling Road and the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 673.

The Chairman will announce any late items which do not appear on the main agenda but which she has agreed should be considered by reason of special circumstances to be specified in the report. 

There were none. 

Members are invited to disclose any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Significant Interests in accordance with the Member Code of Conduct.  Guidance on this is set out in agenda item 4.

Disclosable pecuniary interests

There were none.

Other significant interests (OSIs)

There were none.

Other interests

There were none.

Strood Rural

Application for approval of reserved matters being appearance, landscaping, layout and scale, pursuant to planning permission MC/19/0287 - Outline planning permission with some matters reserved (appearance landscaping layout and scale) for up to 225 residential dwellings including  up to 25% affordable housing, introduction of structural planting and  landscaping, informal public open space and children's play area, surface  water flood mitigation and attenuation, vehicular access point from Town  Road and associated ancillary works.

Discussion: 

The Head of Planning outlined the planning application in detail and reminded the Committee that in May 2017, the Council had refused an outline application for development of this site for the erection of up to 255 residential dwellings. However, following a public inquiry, the Planning Inspector had recommended that the appeal be allowed but the Secretary of State had then called in the appeal for his determination.

The Secretary of State had subsequently dismissed the appeal on two grounds, one relating to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the other due to the lack of an adequate local bus service. However, since that decision, the NPPF had been changed and therefore the first reason for dismissing the appeal was no longer applicable and, when considering a revised planning application MC/19/0287, it had been noted that a financial contribution to fund a new bus service had been agreed. Therefore, the two reasons given by the Secretary of State for dismissing the original appeal had been addressed and therefore in 2019, the Committee had no alternative but to approve the outline application subject to conditions and a Section 106.

The principle of the development at this site had therefore been established by the granting of outline planning permission under planning application MC/19/0287 for up to 225 dwellings.

The Head of Planning informed the Committee that a new developer had now taken over the site and the current application sought approval of all reserved matters, except access, for 184 dwellings. Access to the site had been approved as part of the outline application and therefore those matters now requiring approval related solely to appearance, landscaping, layout and scale.

He confirmed that the development would include 25% affordable housing (46 properties).

The proposal would comprise of onsite open space, children’s play space surface water attenuation and ancillary works, a landscape buffer along the eastern and southern boundaries of the site and a pedestrian link to the adjoining footpath to the north of the site.

To the north of the site a separate, full application for allotments had been submitted and this application had also been included on the agenda for consideration at this meeting.

The Head of Planning suggested that if the Committee was minded to approve the application, a new condition 4 be approved dealing with energy efficiency and climate change as set out on the supplementary agenda advice sheet and he drew attention to an amendment to the planning appraisal section of the report relating to Climate Change and Energy Efficiency.

The Committee discussed the report and the Head of Planning and Principal Transport Planner answered questions on a number of issues including: provision of a bus shelter and real time information, cycle routes, hedgerows, access, private and open space allocation and management, cat ownership, energy efficiency/climate change and current regulations, school places and 106 educational contributions, electric vehicle charging points and the traffic management plan.

Arising from the discussion Members requested that:

·       the welcome pack for each new  ...  view the full minutes text for item 676.

Strood Rural

Change of use of land for the provision of allotments, associated landscaping, open space and access.

Discussion:  

The Head of Planning outlined the planning application and in particular its relationship to planning application MC/21/1287.

It was noted that if approved, the allotments would be run and managed by the Parish Council.

Decision:

Approved with conditions 1 – 4 as set out in the report for the reasons stated in the report.

Hempstead and Wigmore

Variation of condition 2 on planning permission MC/18/3610 to allow a minor material amendment to the access arrangements and landscaping.

Discussion:  

The Head of Planning outlined the planning application and explained the reason for the request to vary condition 2 on planning application MC/18/3610.

The Committee discussed the application and noted the Principal Transport Planner’s response to questions concerning the vehicular movements on and off the site should the application be approved.

Decision:

Approved with conditions 1 – 10 as set out in the report for the reasons stated in the report.

Gillingham South

Demolition of existing garages and construction of a three storey block comprising three 2-bedroom flats.

Discussion:  

The Head of Planning outlined the planning application and informed the Committee that this would be a car free development based on the fact that the site was located within an area close to Gillingham Town Centre in an area with parking controls, had nearby bus stops and was in close proximity to Gillingham Train Station and proposed cycle storage. He confirmed that if approved, future residents would be informed that they would not be able to apply for parking permits and would not be able to park on site.

If the Committee was minded to approve the application, proposed condition 4 was to be amended as set out on the supplementary agenda advice sheet.

Decision:

Approved with conditions 1 – 3 and 5 – 13 as set out in the report for the reasons stated in the report and condition 4 amended as follows:

4     The first floor windows serving flat 2 and the rooflights serving flat 3 on the northwest facing rear elevation and roof slope shall be fitted with obscure glass and apart from any top-hung light, that has a cill height of not less than 1.7 metres above the internal finished floor level of the room it serves, shall be non-opening. This work shall be completed before first occupation of relevant flat and shall be retained thereafter.

Reason:  To ensure the development does not prejudice conditions of amenity by reason of unneighbourly overlooking of adjoining property, in accordance with Policy BNE2 of the Medway Local Plan 2003.

Strood South

Construction of a two bedroom end of terrace house with associated parking, shed and landscaping together with bin and cycle store and electric vehicle charging points.

Discussion:  

The Head of Planning outlined the planning application and informed the Committee that this was a balanced application. He explained that that application related to the construction of a 2-bed end of terrace house in a cul-de-sac. As part of the development, 2 parking spaces would be provided, one for the existing house and one for the new property and therefore, any visitors or additional vehicles would need to be parked on the roadway for which there was already competing demand.

The Committee discussed the application and several members of the Committee, including a Ward Councillor indicated that they had knowledge of the area and confirmed that the availability of on street parking was very limited in the cul-de-sac resulting in vehicles being parked on grass verges. This was evidenced by a view of Google Street View which was displayed at the meeting.

Based on the information supplied and the views expressed, it was generally considered that the provision of one further house on this site with one parking space would constitute an overdevelopment and potential increase in demand for on-street parking in an area where there was already a high level of demand for on-street parking.    

Decision:

Refused on the grounds that the development would constitute an overdevelopment of the site and lead to a potential increase in demand for on-street parking in an area where there was already a high level of demand for on-street parking and the Head of Planning was granted delegated authority to approve the refusal grounds with the Chairman, Vice Chairman and Opposition Spokesperson outside of the meeting.