Agenda item

To approve the record of the meeting held on 6 October 2022 and 19 October 2022.

The record of the meetings held on 6 October 2022 and 19 October 2022 were agreed and signed by the Chairman as correct.

The Committee was informed of the following, that had been approved by the Head of Planning under delegated powers in consultation with the Chairman, Vice Chairman and Opposition Spokesperson as set out on the supplementary agenda advice sheet:

Minute 282, Planning application – MC/21/2225 Land to the east of Seymour Road and north of London Road, Rainham, Gillingham, Medway

To report reasons for refusal as follow:

1.       The residual cumulative impacts on the operation of the road network are considered to be severe. The cumulative residual impact on the operation of the road network would also result in an unacceptable impact on highway safety, including as a result of vehicles re-routing along roads that are unsuitable to accommodate increased traffic flow. The development is therefore contrary to paragraph 111 of the NPPF, as well as policies T1 and BNE2 of the Medway Local Plan (2003).

2.             The development would also cause harm to the setting and significance of designated heritage assets (Moor Street House (Grade II) and The Cowls, the Oasts, The Press (Grade II) and The Moor Street Conservation Area) contrary to of Polices BNE14 and BNE18 of the Medway Local Plan (2003) and paragraph 199 of the NPPF 2021. It is accepted that, considered in isolation, the public benefits of the scheme outweigh the harm to these designated heritage assets.

3.       The adverse highway impacts, whether considered in isolation or whether considered together with the harm to designated heritage assets, significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of the scheme and justify refusal of permission.

Minute 283, Planning application – MC/21/3125 Land north of Moor Street, Rainham, Gillingham

To report reasons for refusal as follow:

1.       The residual cumulative impacts on the operation of the road network are considered to be severe. The cumulative residual impact on the operation of the road network would also result in an unacceptable impact on highway safety, including as a result of vehicles re-routing along roads that are unsuitable to accommodate increased traffic flow. The development is therefore contrary to paragraph 111 of the NPPF, as well as policies T1 and BNE2 of the Medway Local Plan (2003).

2.             The development would also cause harm to the setting and significance of designated heritage assets (Westmoor Cottage, Moor Street (Grade II); West Moor Farmhouse, Moor Street (Grade II) and The Moor Street Conservation Area) contrary to of Polices BNE14 and BNE18 of the Medway Local Plan (2003) and paragraph 199 of the NPPF 2021. It is accepted that, considered in isolation, the public benefits of the scheme outweigh the harm to these designated heritage assets.

3.             The adverse highway impacts, whether considered in isolation or whether considered together with the harm to designated heritage assets, significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of the scheme and justify refusal of permission.

Minute 322, Planning application – MC/22/0254 Land to the east and west of Church Street, Cliffe, Rochester

To report the reasons for refusal as follow:

1.       The proposed development, by reason of its scale (equating to approximately a 25% increase on the size of Cliffe Village) will result in unacceptable harm to the character of this historic village and will therefore be harmful to the character, appearance and amenity of the locality. Such development would be contrary to Policies S1, S2 and BNE1 of the Medway Local Plan 2003 and the objectives of paragraph 130 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2021.

2.       The proposal would result in a significant increase in vehicular movement along the B2000 through the villages of Cliffe Woods and Cliffe where the road is narrow and there are a significant number of residential properties fronting onto the road. Such a significant increase in vehicular movement would result in harm to the amenity that occupiers of those properties closest to the road could reasonably expect to enjoy, by virtue of increased noise, air pollution and general congestion through the villages. The proposal is therefore contrary to Policies BNE2 and T2 of the Medway Local Plan 2003 and the objectives of paragraphs 119 and 130 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2021.

3.             The proposed re-locate the APCM Sports Ground to the northern end of the village, to the rear of residential properties, with no direct overlooking from public land or passing traffic and accessed by a narrow single track Buttway Lane, which has no footpath, will be of inferior quality to the existing APCM sports ground. The existing sports ground is more in the centre of the village, served by public footpaths and well overlooked from public land where users feel safe and secure and as a result the sports ground is well used by the local community for formal and informal recreational purposes and is an asset of community value. This is therefore considered to be contrary to Policy L3 of the Medway Local Plan 2003 and the objectives of paragraph 84, 92 and 99 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2021.

4.       Cliffe is a village at the very end of the B2000 and a significant distance from the nearest Town of Strood. The B2000 has no footpaths and due to its narrow width, lack of street lights and the speed of vehicles using it, does not encourage its safe use by pedestrians or cyclists. The existing bus service is irregular, expensive, poorly used and its timings do not encourage use by commuters or those wanting to travel into or back from the Town in the evening. The village is also served by limited facilities and services. As a result, the existing village is not considered to be sustainably located and the proposed expansion would be car dominated and does not represent sustainable development. This is contrary to Policies T3 and T4 of the Medway Local Plan 2003 and the core objective in the National Planning Policy Framework 2021 of presumption in favour of sustainable development.