Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Hamilton, Jones, Myton and Peake.

To approve the records of the meetings held on 17 December 2025 and 14 January 2026.

The record of the meetings held on 17 December 2025 and 14 January 2026 were agreed and signed by the Chairperson as correct. 

The Chairperson will announce any late items which do not appear on the main agenda but which he/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

Councillor Etheridge stated that he often attended meetings of Frindsbury and Cliffe Woods Parish Councils and explained that if any planning applications were ever discussed there, which were due to be considered by the Medway Council Planning Committee meeting, he did not take part in the discussion at the Parish Council meetings.

Councillors Bowen and Campbell referred to planning application MC/25/0241– Land at 320-346 High Street, Rochester and informed the Committee that although they had met with the Pastor of Hope Centre, they had not expressed a view upon the application. Therefore, they would remain and take part in the consideration and determination of the planning application.

Fort Pitt Ward 

Change of use of residential dwelling (Use Class C3) to a therapeutic children's home (Use Class C2 Residential Institution) for up to 4 young people aged between 7 and 17 years.

Discussion:

The Service Manager - Development Management presented the application which sought permission for the change of use of residential dwelling (Use Class C3) to a therapeutic children’s home (Use Class C2 Residential Institution) for up to four young people aged between 7 and 17 years.

The Committee discussed the planning application noting the officer presentation and the report.

Decision:      

APPROVED subject to conditions 1 to 5 as set out in the report for the reasons stated in the report.

Fort Pitt Ward 

Demolition of existing buildings and structures retaining 340 and 346 Rochester High Street and construction of twenty-eight residential dwellings together with the provision of vehicular access, cycle and pedestrian access, public open space, sustainable drainage systems, landscaping, infrastructure, earthworks and all other associated works.

Discussion:

The Service Manager – Development Management presented the application which sought permission for the demolition of existing buildings and structures retaining 340 and 346 Rochester High Street and construction of twenty-eight residential dwellings together with the provision of vehicular access, cycle and pedestrian access, public open space, sustainable drainage systems, landscaping, infrastructure, earthworks and all other associated works.

Members attention was drawn to the supplementary agenda advice sheet which stated that the recommendation should be altered as follows: the addition of a missing Condition 14, Condition 22 being amended by the inclusion of the following wording - ‘or other appropriate means of ventilation’ and two add additional conditions 30 and 31 referred to in the main report but not reflected in the recommendation. Amendments to the Representations section and Appraisal section of the report were set out on the supplementary agenda.  

The Committee discussed the planning application noting the officer presentation, the report and the supplementary advice sheet.

During the discussion Members were reassured that discussions had taken place with the City of Rochester Society and residents. In response to a query whether some of the possible clawback funding could be used to assist with the relocation of the Hope Centre, Officers explained that if there were any clawback funding available in the future a broad range of options would be looked at including community facilities.

Decision:      

Approved subject to:

a)    A Section 106 being entered into to secure:

(i)             A contribution of £9,449.72. towards bird mitigation

(ii)            Amendments to the CPZ in relation to 3 parking spaces

(iii)          A Clawback clause in relation to viability

b)    Conditions 1 to 29 set out in the report for the reasons stated in the report and supplementary advice sheet including the amended Condition 22 to read as follows:

Condition 22 - Amendment

Prior to the commencement of the development hereby permitted, a

scheme of acoustic protection against transport noise shall be submitted and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The scheme shall include details of acoustic protection sufficient to ensure internal noise levels (LAeq,T) no greater than 30dB in bedrooms and 35dB in living rooms with windows closed and a maximum noise level (LAmax) of no more than 45dB(A) with windows closed. Where the internal noise levels will be exceeded with windows open, the scheme shall incorporate appropriate acoustically screened mechanical ventilation or other appropriate means of ventilation. All works, which form part of the approved scheme, shall be completed before any part of the development is occupied and shall thereafter be maintained in

accordance with the approved details.

Reason: To protect the residential amenities of residents in compliance with Policy BNE2 of the Medway Local Plan 2003

c)    Additional Conditions 14, 30 and 31 as follows:

New Condition 14

No development shall commence until details of a Construction Surface Water Management Plan (CSWMP) detailing how surface water and storm water will be managed on the site during construction (including demolition and site clearance operations) is submitted to and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 710.

Strood Rural Ward

Construction of a single storey detached pool house to rear garden.

Discussion:

The Planner presented the application which sought permission for the construction of a single storey detached pool house to rear garden.

The Committee discussed the planning application noting the officer presentation and the report.

Decision:      

APPROVED subject to conditions 1 to 4 as set out in the report for the reasons stated in the report.

Rochester West and Borstal Ward

Replacement of existing conservatory and construction of a new orangery.

Discussion:

The Planner presented the application which sought permission for the replacement of existing conservatory and construction of a new orangery.

The Committee discussed the planning application noting the officer presentation and the report.

Decision:      

APPROVED subject to conditions 1 and 2 as set out in the report for the reasons stated in the report.

This report is presented to the Planning Committee informing Members on current planning performance and the Local Plan. The report covers the period from 1 October to 31 December 2025.

Discussion

The Committee received a report setting out performance for the period 1 October to 31 December 2025.

The Chief Planning Officer drew attention to New National Planning Policy Framework due in Summer 2026 and the changes that this would bring with the aim of getting Britain building again.

The Committee were informed that the use of consultants for Tree Preservation Order applications should be reduced from the end of March due to a new tree officer taking up post.

The Chief Planning Officer reported that only 6 complaints had been upheld and a number of compliments had been received and were shown on page 118 of the report.

Decision:

The Committee noted the report and requested that the Chief Planning Officer express the Committee’s appreciation for the levels of achievement to staff within the Planning Service.

This report informs Members of appeal decisions.  The summary of appeal decisions for those allowed or where decisions were made by the Committee contrary to officer recommendation is listed in Appendix A.

A total of 15 appeal decisions were received, one of which was a Planning Committee overturn decision, which was dismissed by the Planning Inspector and two related to enforcement.  One of these appeals was allowed and fourteen were dismissed. The percentage of appeals allowed during the period is 6.66%.

Discussion

The Chief Planning Officer gave a summary of the appeal decisions referred to in appendix A to the report.

Decision:

The Committee noted the report.

This report informs Members on the amount of Section 106 funding received between October to December 2025 and sets out what the contributions must be spent on according to the Section 106 agreements. This report is submitted for information to assist the Committee in monitoring the contributions which developers have agreed to as part of new development schemes.

Discussion

The Committee received a report setting out section 106 agreements for the period October to December 2025.

Decision:

The Committee noted the Section 106 funding received, those Section 106 agreements signed during the period October to December 2025, Habitat Regulations contributions received and Section 106 expenditure 2024/2025 as set out in Appendices 1 to 4.