Agenda item

To approve the record of the meeting held on 14 October 2020.

The record of the meeting held on 14 October 2020 was agreed and signed by the Chairman as correct, it being noted that in line with the decisions of the Committee on 14 October 2020, the following refusal grounds had been approved under delegated authority by the Head of Planning in consultation with the Chairman:

Minute 340 - MC/20/1115  - 24 Pier Road, Gillingham          

Refused on the following ground:                        

1.    The proposal will result in the loss of a property which is of a size still capable of being occupied as single family accommodation and by the virtue of the proposed number of residents and increase from a single family to a House in Multiple Occupancy will significantly increase activity  and noise disturbance detrimental to the amenity of the occupiers of nearby family homes within Knight Avenue and Corporation Road which are predominantly in single occupation. Consequently the proposal is contrary to Policies H7 and BNE2 of the Medway Local Plan 2003 and paragraph 127 of the NPPF.

Minute 341 – MC/20/1025 - 309 Lower Rainham Road, Rainham            

Refused on the following grounds:

 1.   The impact of the proposed dwellings would be harmful to the character of the area, which is considered a countryside location and consists of sporadic dwellings and open spaces. This would therefore result in the suburbanisation of an area within the countryside, contrary to Policies BNE25 and BNE34 of the Medway Local Plan 2003 and Paragraphs 70 and 127 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2019 and the advice in the Medway Landscape Character Assessment 2011 (Riverside Marshes).

2.  By reason of the sites countryside location, the proposed dwellings are considered to be detached from local services and are not therefore in a sustainable location. The proposal therefore fails to meet the objectives of sustainable development and is contrary to Policy BNE25 of the Medway Local Plan 2003 and paragraph 8 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2019.

3. The application fails to address the impact of the proposal on the Special Protection Areas of the Thames Estuary and Marshes and the Medway Estuary and Marshes through either the submission of details to allow the undertaking of an Appropriate Assessment or via a contribution towards strategic mitigation measures.  In the absence of such information or contribution, the proposal fails to comply with the requirement of the Conservation of Habitat and Species Regulations 2010 and is contrary to paragraphs 175 and 176 of the National Planning Policy Framework and Policy BNE35 of the Medway Local Plan 2003.

4.  The application proposes three self-build dwellings and has failed to secure a commitment to make the development plots available only as self-build plots, by way of a Unilateral Undertaking.

Minute 342 – MC20/1319 - Land off 143 Berengrave Lane, Rainham

Refused on the following ground:

1.  The proposed development would result in intrusion of built form into the countryside and erosion of openness detrimental to the landscape value of the Area of Local Landscape Importance contrary to Policies BNE25 and BNE34 of the Medway Local Plan 2003 and paragraph 170 of the NPPF; in addition the proposal would lead to higher volume of vehicular movements and correspondingly increased level of noise and general disturbance to the detriment of the amenities of the occupiers of the properties along the northern and southern sides of the access drive contrary to Policy BNE2 of the Medway Local Plan 2003 and paragraph 127(f) of the NPPF; furthermore, increase in the volume of traffic at the junction of the access drive with Berengrave Lane would be likely to impact on the free flow of traffic and highway safety contrary to the Policies T1, T2 and T12 of the Medway Local Plan 2003.