To consider the attached report (Part 2).

The Council operates a scheme of public speaking at meetings of the Planning Committee.  All applications on which the public has registered to speak will be taken first.  Requests to speak at the meeting must be registered with Democratic Services (democraticservices@swale.gov.uk or call 01795 417328) by noon on Friday 2 June 2023.

Part 2

Applications for which PERMISSION is recommended

The Area Team Leader introduced the application as set out in the report.

Steve Davies, the agent, spoke in support of the application.

The Chair moved the officer recommendation to approve the application, and this was seconded by Councillor Andy Booth.

The Chair invited Members to make comments, and points raised included:

·      How many vehicles were estimated to come through the site?;

·      what was the width of the road at the junction and was the site access going to be widened to accommodate the large Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV) coming in and out of the site;

·      replacing agricultural land for a lorry park was far from ideal but was forced into this decision due to a decision for a solar park to be installed in the countryside;

·      thought that this was the best of a bad situation;

·      page 239 of the report referred to noise pollution and sought clarification as to why there was not an extension of acoustic fencing to minimise the noise from the generator on the site;

·      wanted to know why there was no electric charger spaces on the site?;

·      wanted to ensure that the welfare cabin was not habitable;

·      could solar panels be placed on the site to avoid the need of a generator?; and

·      was the site lighting being powered by the generator during daylight hours.

The Area Team Leader responded by presenting Members with plans and layouts of the width of the road, and that KCC Highways & Transport had considered that the width to be suitable for HGV traffic. The Environmental Health Team considered that an acoustic barrier was limited to the generator and the site was located 65 meters away from the nearest residential building.

The Area Team Leader referred to the lack of electric vehicle charging points and said the reasons these were not provided was because this was a temporary permission and the site would be returned to agricultural land once no longer required.

Councillor Andy Booth asked the officer if it was possible to add an extra condition to restrict the use of the welfare cabin to ensure it could not be habitable. The Area Team Leader suggested that a condition could be added but if approved separate planning permission would be required to use the cabin as a residential unit. Councillor Andy Booth moved the motion that an extra condition should be improved to not allow the welfare cabin to be used as a residential unit. This was seconded by the Chair and on being put to the vote was agreed.

Resolved: That the application 22/505990/FULL be approved subject to conditions (1) to (19) as set out in the report and the additional condition be imposed requiring that the welfare cabin to be used as a residential unit.