Councillors should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves or their spouse, civil partner or person with whom they are living with as a spouse or civil partner.  They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.

The Chairman will ask Members if they have any interests to declare in respect of items on this agenda, under the following headings:

(a)          Disclosable Pecuniary Interests (DPI) under the Localism Act 2011.  The nature as well as the existence of any such interest must be declared.  After declaring a DPI, the Member must leave the meeting and not take part in the discussion or vote.  This applies even if there is provision for public speaking.

(b)          Disclosable Non Pecuniary (DNPI) under the Code of Conduct adopted by the Council in May 2012.  The nature as well as the existence of any such interest must be declared.  After declaring a DNPI interest, the Member may stay, speak and vote on the matter.

Advice to Members:  If any Councillor has any doubt about the existence or nature of any DPI or DNPI which he/she may have in any item on this agenda, he/she should seek advice from the Director of Corporate Services as Monitoring Officer, the Head of Legal or from other Solicitors in Legal Services as early as possible, and in advance of the Meeting.

No interests were declared.

9.30 am – 14/502521 – The Square, Chequers Hill, Doddington, ME9 0BL

The Vice-Chairman (in the Chair for this meeting) welcomed the applicant, agents, Doddington Parish Council representatives and 11 members of the public to the meeting.

The Area Planning Officer drew attention to the layout plans and drawings displayed by the applicant’s agent.  The Area Planning Officer reported that the application was for change of use of the existing workshop/office building and redevelopment of the industrial buildings to provide 6 no. dwellings (two 4 bedroom dwellings, with a further three dwellings with 3 bedrooms, plus one 2 bedroom flat to be located to the rear of the site) at Chequers Hill, Doddington.

The Area Planning Officer explained that the site was last in use in 2010 as a B2 general industrial use and that part of the site was within the Doddington and Newnham conservation area.  The whole site was within the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. 

The Area Planning Officer reported that initially 6 letters of objection had been received and 2 letters in support.  The Area Planning Officer explained that since writing the report several other letters had been received mostly in support of the application with a further letter of support handed in at the site meeting. 

The Area Planning Officer reported that the Environmental Protection Manager, Environment Agency, and Kent County Council (KCC) Highways raised no objection. 

The Area Planning Officer advised that following pre-application discussions with the applicant’s agent amended conditions were to be proposed relating to protection of slow worms and drainage and he would advise further at the Planning Committee meeting on 29 January 2015.  The Area Planning Officer reported that the views of KCC Archaeology were awaited.

The Conservation Officer reported that he had worked closely with the applicant to ensure that the application had regard to, and also enhanced the conservation area.  He considered that architecturally the application suited the location.

Mr Camp, the applicant, spoke in support of the application.  Mr Camp considered that the application was a high quality residential development and noted that the site was on brownfield land.  The applicant explained that they had engaged with the local community and addressed local concerns to ensure a highly sustainable application was provided which would also ensure that part of the existing Victorian building would be retained.  Mr Camp considered that the proposal would improve the streetscene and that many local residents and the Parish Council supported the proposal.

Mr Haynes, representing Doddington Parish Council, stated that they supported the principle of the development but had the following concerns: the density was too high and the size of the properties was too small; the height of the properties was too high and would have an adverse impact on the visual amenity of the Chequers Public House; insufficient parking spaces; impact of the retaining wall on a neighbouring property; suggest that a covenant be provided to protect the use of the abattoir adjacent to unit 6 from any complaints by potential occupants; concern that a letter from a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 436.