Agenda item

Walderslade Ward

Construction of 18 flats comprising 9 x 1-bed units and 9 x 2-bed units over five storeys with associated car parking and bin stores.

The Planning Manager outlined the planning application and suggested that if the Committee was minded to approve the application, the recommendation be changed to resolve to grant approval subject to there being no objections from the Environment Agency. This update would then amend the sequencing of the proposed recommendations set out in the report.

The Planning Manager further advised of proposals to update the Section 106 heads of agreement, details of which were set out on the supplementary agenda advice sheet.

She informed the Committee that since despatch of the agenda, two further letters of objection had been received from occupants of addresses that had previously objected and reiterating concerns already set out within the report.

Furthermore, the Planning Manager drew attention to changes to the Planning Appraisal section of the report relating to Contamination, Waste and the Report Conclusion, full details of which were set out on the supplementary agenda advice sheet.

The Committee was requested to note that in the event of the Environment Agency responding during the completion of the Section 106, the Committee was requested to approve that the Head of Planning be granted delegated powers to add any condition(s) suggested in the EA’s response or to determine refusal if conditions could not address any objection.

The Committee discussed the report and in particular, the distance between the proposed balconies and those properties in Rush Close.

Clarification was also sought as the wording of that element of the proposed Section 106 agreement relating to health improvements. The Planning Manager confirmed that the Section 106 funding request referred to ‘in the vicinity of the development’ and therefore the words ‘in Gillingham South and Medway’ required removal.

Reference was also made to concerns regarding the potential use of the roof as a garden but it was confirmed that a roof garden was not shown on the application plans and may have related to an earlier planning application. As the property would have a seeded roof, the Head of Planning advised that the restriction on use of the roof area would be addressed in the conditions if approved.

Decision:

Approved subject to:

a)             There being no objection from the Environment Agency and, in the event of the Environment Agency responding during the completion of the Section 106, the Head of Planning be granted delegated powers to add any condition(s) suggested in the EA’s response or to determine refusal if conditions could not address any objection.

b)             Subject to the applicant entering into a legal agreement under the terms of Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to secure:

i)               £46,829.34 green space contribution. Split £44,487.87 towards improvements to the local area and £2,341.47 towards the Great Lines Heritage Park.

ii)              £11,606.22 towards health improvements

iii)            £1,437.48 towards youth provision in Chatham for young people between 819.

iv)            £3,031.20 towards library improvements at Walderslade Village Library.

v)             £3,363.12 towards community facilities within the vicinity of the site.

vi)            Meeting the Council’s costs.

vii)           £3,176.10 towards waste containment for the development, maintenance and improvement of the location of bring centres and waste education. 

c)             Conditions 1 – 17 as set out in the report for the reasons stated in the report.