Agenda item

To approve the record of the meeting held on 24 October 2018.

The record of the meeting held on 24 October 2018 was agreed and signed by the Chairman as correct.

The Committee noted that the wording of the refusal grounds for the following planning applications had been agreed with the Chairman outside of the meeting:

Minute 469 - Planning application - MC/18/2228 - Capstone House, Capstone Road, Lordswood, Chatham

Reason for refusal:

1.    The proposed dwelling would be outside of the urban area and within the Capstone Valley Area of Local Landscape Importance.  The site is also identified within the Medway Landscape Character Assessment 2011 as being within the Darland Banks character area comprising chalk grasslands with narrow ridges and dry valleys creating a prominent distinct valley.  The character of the area is of a narrow rural road with sporadic development but with a distinct rural countryside feel.  Whilst it is recognised that the Council cannot demonstrate a 5 year housing land supply and therefore the presumption in favour of sustainable development applies, the Local Planning Authority does not consider that the proposal represents sustainable development for the following reasons:

·         The economic and social benefits of 1 house are limited.

·         The environmental harm to the character of this rural area through an additional dwelling and the increased urbanisation, together with the precedent for further harmful development if allowed, would outweigh any limited social and economic benefits.

·         The site is not within close walking distance of any services and therefore would result in the need for a requirement for car use and is not therefore in a sustainable location.

·         A dwelling in this location would not therefore support any rural community uses.

·         The proposal does not promote any exceptional design merit nor would it in anyway enhance its immediate setting.

·         The proposal would result in a new vehicular access onto this narrow rural road where there are no footpaths and visibility is restricted in places.  The proposal would therefore increase potential hazards for both vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

The proposal would therefore be harmful to the character of this important area of Local Landscape importance recognised in the Medway Landscape Character Assessment for its important rural landscape quality and would introduce potential harm to pedestrian and vehicular safety.  The proposal is not considered to be sustainable development and is therefore contrary to policies BNE1, BNE25, BNE34 T2 of The Medway Local Plan; the principles set out in the Medway Landscape Character Assessment 2011 and paragraphs 11, and 77-79 of the NPPF 2018.

Minute 471 - Planning application - MC/18/1855 - 151 Bells Lane, Hoo St Werburgh, Rochester, Medway

Reasons for refusal:

1.    The development would result in a cramped and visually imposing form of development that would be out of character with the surrounding streetscene and detrimental to visual amenities of the area contrary to paragraphs 124 and 127 of the NPPF and Policies BNE1 and H4 of the Medway Local Plan 2003.

2.    Due to the design, the proposed properties would provide a poor level of occupier amenity in terms of daylight when located within the kitchen/dining area and therefore the proposal does not comply with paragraph 127f of the NPPF and Policy BNE2 of the Medway Local Plan 2003.

Minute 477 - Planning application - MC/18/2530 - 371-373 Walderslade Road, Walderslade, Chatham, Medway

Reason for refusal:

1.    The change of the hours of operation to 11:00 to 00:00 Sunday to Thursday and 11:00 to 01:00 Friday and Saturday would have the potential to lead to an unacceptable impact upon neighbouring amenities of the neighbouring residents, especially to the flats above, through increased noise and disturbance caused in the late evening/early hours of the morning by patrons of the takeaway.  The development is contrary to Policy BNE2 of the Medway Local Plan 2003 and Paragraph 127(f) of the NPPF.