Agenda item

Rochester West

Construction of 2 houses and 1 two storey flat (within a terrace) with associated parking and landscaped works.

Discussion:

The Planning Manager outlined the planning application and reminded the Committee that this planning application had been the subject of a site visit on 11 February 2017 at which the Senior Planner had set out what the application was for and talked through the submitted plans making reference to the existing site circumstances. Officers had explained the proposed parking for the development, the garden depth, coppicing, landscaping proposed and the extent of ownership/serving notice responsibilities. Tree Preservation status, the extent of coppicing envisaged and the regrowth impact had also been addressed.

A summary of the points raised by the planning agent and the concerns of  residents expressed at the site visit were set out on the supplementary agenda advice sheet along with one additional representation received since despatch of the agenda.

It was suggested that if the Committee was minded to approve the application, proposed conditions 4, 5, 10 and 11(C) be amended as set out on the supplementary agenda advice sheet.

The Committee discussed the application and in particular the impact that the development would have upon the trees.

Decision: 

Approved subject to:

A)           The applicant signing a Unilateral Undertaking under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to secure £670.74 towards Designated Habitats Mitigation;

B)           Conditions 1 – 3, 6 – 9 and 11 a) and b) as set out in the report for the reasons stated in the report and conditions 4, 5, 10 and 11c amended as follows:

4.         No development shall commence until a construction environmental management plan that describes measures to control the noise, dust, storage of materials and lighting arising from the construction phase of the development has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  The construction environmental management plan shall describe how the measures mitigate the impact of construction on residential amenity, wildlife habitat and foraging and commuting bats.  All construction works shall be undertaken in accordance with this approved plan.

Reason: In order to minimise the impact of the construction period on the amenities of local residents, ancient woodland adjacent to the site, wildlife habitat and bats with regard to Policies BNE2, BNE37 and BNE39 of the Medway Local Plan 2003.

5.         Notwithstanding the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (or any order amending, revoking and re-enacting that Order with or without modification) no development shall be carried out within Schedule 2, Part 1, Classes A, B, and E of that Order to the dwelling houses (known as House 1 and House 2) of the development hereby approved, unless planning permission has been granted on an application relating thereto.

Reason:  To enable the Local Planning Authority to control such development in the interests of amenity, in accordance with Policy BNE2 of the Medway Local Plan 2003.

10.      Notwithstanding the submitted details, no development shall take place until there has been submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority a scheme of hard and soft landscaping together with boundary treatment.  All planting, seeding and turfing comprised in the approved scheme of landscaping shall be implemented during the first planting season following occupation of the buildings or completion of the development, whichever is the earlier.  Any trees or plants which, within 5 years of planting are removed or become seriously damaged or diseased, shall be replaced in the next planting season with others of a similar size and species, unless the Local Planning Authority gives written consent to any variation.

Reason:  Pursuant to condition 197 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and to protect and enhance the appearance and character of the site and locality, in accordance with Policy BNE1 and BNE6 of the Medway Local Plan 2003.

11c)    Notwithstanding the submitted information, full details of fencing/alignment or fencing/barriers to be erected for the protection of the retained trees (including Tree 27 shown on plan 1006-510 Rev E) shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority prior to works commencing on site. The fencing shall be undertaken in accordance with the approved plans and particulars before any equipment, machinery or materials are brought on to the site for the purposes of the development, and shall be maintained until all equipment, machinery and surplus materials have been removed from the site. Nothing shall be stored or placed in any area fenced in accordance with this Condition and the ground levels within those areas shall not be altered, nor shall any excavation be made without the written consent of the Local Planning Authority.

Reason: Pursuant to condition 197 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and to protect and enhance the appearance and character of the site and locality, in accordance with Policies BNE1 and BNE6 of the Medway Local Plan 2003.