Agenda item

(1)       The Chairman informed the Committee of correspondence from the Local Member, Mrs S V Hohler in support of the recommendations.

(2)       On being put to the vote, the recommendations of the Head of Planning Applications Group were carried by 7 votes to 0 with 2 abstentions.

(3)       RESOLVED that permission be refused on thefollowinggrounds:-

(a)          TheproposalconstitutesmajordevelopmentinthecontextoftheKentDowns AreaofOutstandingNaturalBeauty (AONB).  TheCounty PlanningAuthority considersthatthereisnospecificneed forthe developmentthatisinthepublic interest, that there is scope to developthewaste use outside the designated area and that whilstany detrimental effectson theenvironmentor landscapearelimited andmaybe capableof beingmitigated to an acceptabledegreethereareno exceptionalcircumstancesthatwouldoutweighthepresumptiontorefusemajor developmentintheAONBas setoutinparagraph116 oftheNational Planning PolicyFramework.   TheproposeddevelopmentisthereforecontrarytoPolicy DM2of theKentMineralsand WasteLocal Plan(2016),PoliciesCP1andCP7of the Tonbridgeand MallingCoreStrategy(2007), PolicySQ1of Tonbridge& Malling   Managing   Development   and   the   Environment   Development   Plan Document (2010),PoliciesMMP2,SD1and SD3of theKentDownsAONB ManagementPlanand paragraphs115 and116 oftheNationalPlanningPolicy Framework.  Onthebasisthat thedevelopmentiscontrary to the abovepoliciesit wouldalsobe contrary to the requirementsofPoliciesCSM1,CSM8,CSW1and DM1oftheKentMineralsand WasteLocal Plan;

(b)        The proposalconstitutesinappropriatedevelopmentwhichbydefinitionisharmful to theGreenBelt.TheCounty PlanningAuthorityconsiders that thereareno Very Special Circumstances thatwouldoutweigh the in-principleharm to theGreenBelt byvirtueof inappropriatenessand thepolicy presumptiontorefusethe developmentin thisinstance.  Theproposeddevelopmentisthereforecontrary to PolicyDM4of theKentMineralsand WasteLocalPlan(2016),PolicyCP3of the Tonbridgeand MallingBoroughCoreStrategy(2007)and paragraphs87 and88 ofthe NationalPlanningPolicy Framework.  On the basisthatthe developmentis contrarytotheabovepoliciesitwouldalsobe contrarytotherequirements of PoliciesCSM1,CSM8,CSW1and DM1of theKentMineralsand WasteLocal Plan; and

(c)          The  application  fails  to  demonstrate  the  potential  extent  and  significance  of amenity impacts resultingfromnoiseand/ordustthatcouldbe generatedby the proposeduse anddoes notadequatelyaddressthein-combination/ cumulative impactswiththesurroundingquarryoperationstoenablea properassessment of the acceptabilityof the developmentintermslocalamenityand locallevelsof tranquillity.  On the basis of these deficiencies, the proposed developmentis contrarytoPoliciesDM11and DM12of theKentMineralsand WasteLocalPlan, Policy  CP24  of  the  Tonbridge  &  Malling  Core  Strategy,  Policy  SQ4  of  the Tonbridge& MallingManagingDevelopmentand theEnvironmentDevelopment PlanDocumentand paragraphs109, 115,116, 118,120 and123 ofthe National PlanningPolicy Framework.  Onthebasisthatthedevelopmentiscontrary to the abovepoliciesitwouldalsobe contrary tothe requirementsofPoliciesCSM1, CSM8,CSW1and DM1oftheKentMineralsand WasteLocal Plan.