Agenda item

Cuxton, Halling and Riverside Ward

Construction of care home facility consisting of 66no. bedrooms with ensuites and communal facilities, and the construction of a separate retail unit (Class E(a)) of 392m2 with associated landscaping, access, parking and infrastructure.

Discussion:

The Principal Planner outlined the application in detail for the construction of a care home facility consisting of 66no. bedrooms with ensuites and communal facilities, and the construction of a separate retail unit (Class E(a)) of 392m2 with associated landscaping, access, parking and infrastructure.

The Principal Planner explained that conditions 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 15 and 16 in the main report were amended, as set out in the supplementary agenda advice sheet.

The Principal Planner clarified that 378 sq metres of 270 solar panels were being proposed.

Although there were a number of objections in the report, many of these were received prior to the application being amended from 80 bedrooms to 66.

The Head of Legal Services confirmed that the retail unit was small enough not to be covered by the normal Sunday trading hours (shops may open but only for six consecutive hours between 10am and 6pm).   The opening hours of the retail unit were stated in condition 19.

The Head of Legal Services clarified that the electric vehicle charging points were referenced in condition 16.

Decision:      

Approved with conditions 1, 3 to 4, 8, 10 to 14 and 17 to 21 as set out in the report for the reasons stated in the report.   Conditions 2 was amended and conditions 5, 6, 7, 9, 15 and 16 were amended to include wording for each phase of the development (Care Homes and Co-Op separately) as set out in the supplementary agenda advice sheet so they read as follows:

2               AMEND the following plan number in condition 2 ASP-CH-042-PL-009A – Supermarket Plans/Elevations.

5        A landscape management plan for each phase of development, including long term design objectives, management responsibilities and maintenance schedules for all landscape areas, shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority prior to the first occupation of any part of the development. The landscape management plan shall be carried out as approved.

Reason: Pursuant to condition 197 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and to protect and enhance the appearance and character of the site and locality in accordance with policies BNE1 and BNE6 of the Medway Local Plan 2003.

6        Prior to first occupation of any phase, a lighting design plan for biodiversity shall be submitted to, and approved in writing by, the Local Planning Authority. The plan will show the type and locations of external lighting, and expected light spill in lux levels, demonstrating that areas to be lit will not adversely impact biodiversity. All external lighting shall be installed in accordance with the specifications and locations set out in the plan and will be maintained thereafter.

Reason: To ensure a satisfactory external appearance and biodiversity sensitivity and to ensure the provision of lighting does not result in glare or light overspill to surrounding properties in accordance with policies BNE2 and BNE5 of the Medway Local Plan 2003.

7        Prior to first occupation of each phase of the development hereby approved, details of how the development will enhance biodiversity shall be submitted to, and approved in writing by, the Local Planning Authority. This will include the implementation of ecological enhancements set out in section 7 within the Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (Greenspace Ecological Solutions June 2023). The approved details shall be implemented prior to first occupation or in accordance with an implementation plan agreed as part of the submission pursuant to this condition and thereafter retained.

Reason: To ensure a satisfactory development that is in alignment with paragraph 179 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2019.

9        Prior to any phase of the permitted development being occupied a verification report demonstrating the completion of works set out in the approved remediation strategy and the effectiveness of the remediation shall be submitted to, and approved in writing, by the local planning authority. The report shall include results of sampling and monitoring carried out in accordance with the approved verification plan to demonstrate that the site remediation criteria have been met.

Reason: To ensure that the site does not pose any further risk to human health or the water environment by demonstrating that the requirements of the approved verification plan have been met and that remediation of the site is complete. This is in line with paragraph 174 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

15       No phase of the development shall be first occupied until details of secure private cycle parking provision in the form of individual lockers have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority for that phase.  The cycle parking shall be implemented in accordance with the approved details before any part of the development is occupied within that phase and shall thereafter be retained. 

Reason: To ensure the provision and permanent retention of bicycle spaces in accordance with Policy T4 of the Medway Local Plan 2003.

16       No development within any phase shall take place above ground floor slab level until details of the provision of all electric vehicle charging points have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  Details shall include the location, charging type (power output and charging speed), associated infrastructure and timetable for installation.  The development shall be implemented in accordance with the approved details prior to first occupation of the development or in accordance with a timetable agreed in writing with the Local Planning Authority and shall thereafter be maintained.

Reason: In the interests of sustainability in accordance with paragraph 110E of National Planning Policy Framework 2019.