This is a default template, your custom branding appears to be missing.
The custom branding should be at https://ww2.medway.gov.uk/DemocracyBranding/index.html if you cannot load this page please contact your IT.

Technical Error: Error: An exception occurred during a WebClient request.

Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Meeting Room 9 - Level 3, Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Chatham ME4 4TR

Contact: Ellen Wright, Democratic Services Officer 

Items
No. Item

363.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Buckwell, Griffin, Lloyd and Potter.

364.

Record of meeting pdf icon PDF 424 KB

To approve the record of the meeting held on 18 September 2019.

Minutes:

The record of the meeting held on 18 September 2019 was agreed and signed by the Chairman as correct.

 

The Chairman drew attention to the supplementary agenda advice sheet advising the following updates on applications considered on 18 September:

 

Minute 294 – Planning application – MC/18/3209 – Land rear of 12 New Road Avenue (Fronting Gundulph Road), Chatham

 

The Head of Planning had written to the owner of the nightclub regarding any future relocation of the smoking shelter and asked to be consulted if any relocation closer to the site were to be proposed.

 

 

Minute 295 – Planning application – MC/19/1017 - 31-35 Balmoral Road, Gillingham

                       

The following reason for refusal had been agreed with the Chairman and Opposition Spokesperson:

 

1          The proposal represents an overdevelopment of the site due to the amount of built development proposed, the contrived design of varying design styles, lack of onsite parking and inadequate external amenity space in terms of both provision and layout to serve the prospective residents.  The proposal is therefore contrary to the provisions of Policies BNE1 and BNE2 and paragraphs 124, and 127 of the NPPF 2019.

 

Minute 297 – Planning application MC/19/1171 - 26-36 Ivy Street, Rainham, Gillingham

 

The wording of Condition 21 had been approved by the Head of Planning under delegated authority:

 

21.       Residents of the proposed development hereby permitted shall not be entitled to apply for or acquire residents parking permits for on street parking in the area.

 

Minute 299 – Planning application – MC/19/1717 - 107 Victoria Street, Gillingham               

                                               

The wording of Condition 8 had been approved by the Head of Planning under delegated authority:

 

8.         The outbuilding hereby permitted shall be used only for purposes of storage associated with the existing retail use at no.107 Victoria Street, Gillingham.

 

Minute 300 – Planning application MC/19/1450 - 37 Redwing Road, Princes Park, Chatham

 

The following Conditions had been agreed in consultation with the Chairman and Opposition Spokesperson:

 

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

 

Drawing numbers: DKM/9743/03 REV 01, DKM/9743/04 Rev 01 and DKM/9743/05 REV 01 received on 27 June 2019.

 

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

 

2.         The outbuilding herein approved shall only be used in connection with no. 37 Redwing Road domestic storage ancillary to the use of the dwelling, and no trade or business shall be carried out therefrom. The shed shall thereafter be maintained in a stained brown finish matching the colour of the existing fence.

 

Reason:  In the interests of protecting residential amenity in accordance with Policy BNE2 of the Medway Local Plan 2003

365.

Urgent matters by reason of special circumstances

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. 

Minutes:

There were none. 

366.

Declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests and Other Significant Interests pdf icon PDF 211 KB

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.

 

Minutes:

Disclosable pecuniary interests

 

There were none.

 

Other significant interests (OSIs)

 

There were none.

 

Other interests

 

There were none.

 

367.

Planning application - MC/19/1748 - Plot 1 St Anthonys Way, Medway City Estate, Rochester pdf icon PDF 137 KB

Strood Rural

 

Construction of 8no. units for Class B2/B8 use  (with ancillary trade counter(s)) and sui generis use(s) within the specified categories: ((i) Storage, distribution of sales of tiles, floor coverings, bathroom and kitchen furniture and fittings and other building materials; (ii) Machinery, tool and plant hire; (iii) Auto Centre for fitting and associated sale of tyres and car parts (including MOT); and (iv) Plumbers and Building Merchants) totalling 12,300 sqm, together with  the creation of new access and parking.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Discussion: 

 

The Head of Planning referred to the planning application and drew attention to a number of suggested amendments to proposed conditions set out on the supplementary agenda advice sheet.

 

In addition, he drew attention to a correction to the location of the application site in that it was in Anthony’s Way not St Anthony’s Way.

 

The supplementary agenda advice sheet also set out an amendment to the ecology and biodiversity section of the planning appraisal section of the report.

 

The Head of Planning referred to the planning history for the site and informed the Committee that a previous application on this site had been discussed by the Committee in June 2019 after an appeal against non determination. The Committee had subsequently decided that had it been in a position to determine that planning application, it would have been refused on the grounds that insufficient information had been submitted to demonstrate that the traffic generated by the development would not be detrimental to the capacity, functioning and safety of the public highway. The appeal had subsequently been allowed on 20 September 2019 and this was now a material consideration in the determination of the current planning application.

 

The Head of Planning outlined the basis of the current application and advised the Committee that the recent appeal proposal was a reduced scheme to that previously proposed and to the Sainsbury’s superstore plus park and ride facility. The recent appeal scheme had been the subject of a retail assessment and it was considered that it would not provide any harm to the retail centres of Strood, Chatham or Gillingham by virtue of the proposed uses. The current application did not include any retail and was purely for an employment (B2 and B8 uses) scheme.

 

In appreciating the Council’s concerns regarding traffic generation, the applicants had offered to make financial contributions for improvements to the Medway City Estate roundabout and a Medway City Estate wide travel plan.

 

The Committee discussed the planning application and, in particular, the proposed traffic and ecological measures. It was confirmed that both the Council’s ecologist and the applicant’s ecologist had confirmed that reptiles had not re-colonised at the site. However, the Head of Planning agreed to speak to the ecologists again and if an additional condition or a new survey was required, this could be added under his delegated authority

 

In response to the Committee’s concerns, the Head of Planning suggested that under delegated authority, he review the proposed wording of condition 19 to see if the issue of landscape maintenance could be added, if not, he would add a further condition.

 

Both the ecological and landscape maintenance issues would be agreed in consultation with the Chairman, Vice Chairman and Opposition Spokesperson before a decision notice was issued.

 

Decision:

 

Approved subject to:

 

a)            A unilateral undertaking for the following contributions:

·          £90,805 to be secured for the improvements on the Medway City Estate Roundabout.

·         £29,195 to be secured for a Medway City Estate wide travel plan.

 

b)            Conditions 1  ...  view the full minutes text for item 367.

368.

Planning application - MC/19/1028 - Unit 2B London Medway Commercial Park, James Swallow Way, Hoo St Werburgh, Rochester pdf icon PDF 160 KB

Peninsula

 

Development of Plot 2B incorporating the construction of a warehouse building with undercroft; first and second floor mezzanine levels for Class B1(c) light industrial/ B2 general industrial/ B8 storage and distribution uses, access, parking, drainage, landscaping and associated works including means of access.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Discussion: 

 

The Head of Planning outlined the planning application in detail.

 

In response to questions concerning the travel plan and surface water drainage, the Head of Planning confirmed that these were covered by proposed conditions 8, 11 and 12.

 

Decision:

 

Approved with conditions 1 – 14 as set out in the report for the reasons stated in the report.

369.

Planning application - MC/19/1506 - The Cricketers, Sturdee Avenue, Gillingham pdf icon PDF 159 KB

Watling

 

Demolition of garage and redevelopment of the existing public house car park to create 2 x two bedroom houses with associated car and cycle parking and landscaping.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Discussion: 

 

The Senior Planner outlined the planning application in detail and confirmed that the proposed development would provide 4 parking spaces within the application site.

 

Whilst Members noted that the development would not result in the loss of the public house, concern was expressed as to the loss of parking for patrons of public house and the potential impact this could have for demand for on-street parking especially during events. In response, the Senior Planner confirmed that the application site had been fenced off and therefore had not been available for parking for the public house for some time. He also confirmed that the public house had been sited in Sturdee Avenue since the 1930’s prior to planning controls and therefore there were no conditions in place to require that the public house provide a car park.

 

Decision:

 

Approved with conditions 1 – 17 as set out in the report for the reasons stated in the report.

370.

Planning application - MC/19/1336 - Shipwrights Arms, 44-45 Hills Terrace, Chatham pdf icon PDF 156 KB

Chatham Central

 

Conversion of existing pub into six self-contained flats (four x 2 bedroomed two bedsit units). Insertion of new dormer window into existing roof space.  Amenity area with railings at first front floor level and erection of 1.8m close boarded fence  - demolition of existing two chimney stacks, steps, external staircase and rear projection.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Discussion:

 

The Senior Planner outlined the planning application in detail.

 

He confirmed that the applicants had now paid the contribution of £1227.80 towards Bird Mitigation and therefore there was no longer a need to impose this requirement should the application be approved.

 

The Committee discussed the application and a number of Members expressed a view that they would prefer provision of a further 2 bedroomed flat in the roofspace rather than 2 bed sit units.

 

Decision:

 

Consideration of the application be deferred to enable officers to undertake further discussions with the applicant concerning the possible provision of a 2 bedroomed flat in the roofspace as opposed to 2 bed sits.

 

371.

Planning application - MC/17/4357 - Greatfield Lodge, Darnley Road, Strood, Rochester pdf icon PDF 404 KB

 Strood South

 

Proposed part demolition of existing communal facilities block and addition of first floor to create a two-storey building (block 3), addition of new storey to block 1 to create a three/four storey building and extension to front and external staircase to block 2 and other associated works to facilitate conversion of Greatfield Lodge Residential Hostel into 14 one bed and 10 two bed residential self contained flats including creation of an access road onto the site from Hawthorn Road and inclusion of derelict land to the rear of No. 276 Hawthorn Road to form part of the overall site.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Decision:

 

The Committee noted that as the applicant had now entered a Unilateral Undertaking/Section 106 agreement to secure appropriate developer contributions, this application had been withdrawn from the agenda and a decision notice would be issued in accordance with the Committee’s decision on 19 December 2018. 

372.

Planning application - MC/19/1915 - 122 Ploughmans Way, Rainham, Gillingham pdf icon PDF 142 KB

Rainham South

 

Construction of a two bedroomed detached dwelling with associated parking (Resubmission of MC/18/3561).

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Discussion: 

 

The Head of Planning outlined the planning application in detail and drew attention to the current scheme and how it differed to that previously refused in February 2019.

 

He drew attention to the supplementary agenda advice sheet and suggested that if the Committee was minded to approve the application, proposed conditions 4 and 5 be amended.

 

In addition, he referred to a revised paragraph relating to the ‘neighbouring residential amenity’ section of the planning appraisal section of the report also set out on the supplementary agenda advice sheet.

 

Decision:

 

Approved subject to:

 

a)            Securing a contribution of £245.56 towards wildlife mitigation;

 

b)            Conditions 1 – 3 and 6 – 8  as set out in the report for the reasons stated in the report and revised conditions 4 and 5 as set out below:

 

4.         Prior to first occupation the first floor south west elevation windows to serve the living room shall be provided as per approved drawing 3170-005 rev A and shall thereafter be retained as such.

 

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.

 

5.         Notwithstanding the details set out on drawing 3170-005 rev A , the timber screen around the patio shall be a minimum of 1.7m in height and no more than 2m in height as measured from the floor level of the patio.  The screen shall be erected prior to first occupation of the dwelling and shall thereafter be retained.

 

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.