Agenda item

(1)       Mrs T Dean was present for this item pursuant to Committee Procedure Rule 2.21 and spoke.

(2)       Correspondence from East Malling and Larkfield Parish Council had been circulated to the Committee before the meeting.

(3)       The Committee noted an amendment to paragraph 71 of the report which deleted reference to a low bridge near Snodland.

(4)       In agreeing the recommendations of the Head of Planning Applications Group, the Committee asked for the inclusion of Informatives asking the applicant to give further consideration to rail and river transportation and to make all reasonable efforts to ensure that traffic associated with the development would use new Hythe Lane (north of its junction with Leybourne Way) and Leybourne Way to access the site.  

(5)       The Development Planning Manager confirmed that he would draw his Highways and Transportation colleagues’ attention to the Bellingham Way roundabout and parking bay issues referred to by Mrs Dean but advised that there would need to be concrete evidence of actual problems before action could follow.

(6)     RESOLVED that:-

(a)         permission be granted to the application subject to the prior completion of a Section 106 Agreement (Unilateral Undertaking) to secure the cessation of all metals recycling operations at the applicant’s existing facility at Mill Hall, Aylesford and to conditions, including covering a maximum throughput of 100,000 tonnes per year (tpa); a maximum number of operational vehicle movements associated with the MetRF being limited to 172 per day (86 in / 86 out); measures to prevent mud or other materials being deposited on the highway; parking, loading and turning areas being paved, drained and maintained for the life of the facility; the hours of construction being 0700 to 1700 hours Monday to Saturday unless otherwise approved by the County Planning Authority; the hours of operation being 0700 to 1800 hours Monday to Friday and 0700 to 1300 hours on Saturdays with no working on Saturday afternoon, Sundays, Bank and Public Holidays unless otherwise approved by the County Planning Authority; vehicles additionally being permitted to enter and leave the site between 0600 and 0700 hours on those days that the site is operational; any unexpected ground contamination; groundwater protection; a foul and surface water drainage scheme to be approved by the County Planning Authority; dust control measures;  the rating noise level emanating from the facility at nearby residential premises being restricted to no more than the existing background noise level when assessed in accordance with BS 4142;  the use of the proposed container inverter being precluded (unless otherwise agreed by the County Planning Authority); the use of cladding material for the proposed sheds meeting a 34dB criteria; a 3m high noise barrier on the east and south east site boundaries; the shed door containing the wood chipper remaining closed during its operation; the wood chipper not operating on Saturdays; non-tonal reversing alarms (e.g. variable level broadband white-noise directional signals) being used where possible to minimise the use of tonal alarms; a lighting scheme being submitted to the County Planning Authority for approval prior to the commencement of the development, with the lighting being designed, maintained and used to minimise adverse impacts; details of building materials, design and colour being approved by the County Planning Authority; details of the 3m high acoustic fence being approved by the County Planning Authority; the height of material stockpiles and skip storage being restricted to no more than 5m above ground level, with the plant and machinery being operated from ground level rather than from on stockpiles; materials being handled and stored in accordance with the proposed site layout unless otherwise approved by the County Planning Authority; the implementation of a scheme of archaeological work approved by the County Planning Authority, if any excavations are required; the implementation of a biodiversity enhancement scheme approved by the County Planning Authority; and scrub clearance being implemented as proposed (i.e. outside the bird nesting season); and

(b)               the applicant be advised by Informative that it should give further consideration to rail and river transportation and make all reasonable efforts to ensure that traffic associated with the development will use New Hythe Lane (north of its junction with Leybourne Way) and Leybourne Way to access the site.