Agenda item

To approve the record of the meeting held on 20 March 2019.

The record of the meeting held on 20 March 2019 was agreed and signed by the Chairman as correct.

The Committee noted that the wording of the refusal grounds for the following applications had been agreed with the Chairman, Vice Chairman and Opposition Spokespersons outside of the meeting:

Minute 924 – MC/18/3352 - 249 London Road, Rainham, Gillingham                             

Refused on the following ground:

1          The proposal represents an overdevelopment of the site due to the number of flats proposed and the limited onsite parking available in a location where prospective occupiers are likely to require a private vehicle. As a result the proposal is likely to lead to overspill parking on neighbouring residential roads where on street parking is already at a premium which will be to the detriment  of the amenities of the occupiers of the properties in those neighbouring streets. The proposal is contrary to Policies BNE2 and T13 of the Medway Local Plan, and paragraph 127f of the NPPF.

Minute 925 – MC/18/3461 - Coronation Bungalow, Cooling Street, Cliffe, Rochester

Refused on the following ground:

1          Cooling Street is a hamlet with no local facilities, services or public transport and in that respect the proposal for an increase of two dwellings on site would represent an unsustainable form of development completely reliant on the use of the private car. In addition the proposal by reason of its design, layout and appearance would appear as a dominant and cramped form of development out of character with the general street scene which is characterised by small scale properties with long rear gardens. As a result, the proposal represents an overdevelopment of the land, and would have a detrimental and negative impact on the surrounding area and streetscene. The proposal would therefore be contrary to Policies BNE1 and BNE25 of the Medway Local Plan 2003 and represents an unsustainable form of development contrary to the aspirations of the NPPF 2019.

Minute 926 – MC/18/3652 - 36 Kingswood Road, Gillingham

Refused on the following ground:

1          The application property is a mid-terraced dwelling that is not situated in a predominantly mixed-use or commercial area and is of a size suitable for occupation by a single-family unit. The basement rooms would provide limited outlook for the future occupants which would result in an unacceptably poor standard of amenity and living accommodation that future occupiers can reasonably expect to enjoy. The proposal would also have increased and unacceptable impact on the amenities of the occupiers of neighbouring properties by virtue of increased activities and traffic to the area, to the  detriment of the neighbouring occupiers and local amenity. The proposal is contrary to Policies H7 and BNE2 of the Medway Local Plan 2003, and paragraph 127f of the NPPF.

Minute 927 – MC/18/3599 - 486 Lower Rainham Road, Rainham            

Refused on the following ground:

1          The proposed change of use of this family dwelling house would result in the loss of much needed housing in the area, which would compromise the Council's level of existing housing stock. The proposed office use in a predominantly residential area would introduce a use that would be out of character with the residential nature of the area. The proposal would therefore be contrary to Policy H2 of the Medway Local Plan 2003, and the objectives of paragraph 122 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2019.