Agenda item

David Smith (Director of Economic Development), Nick Fenton (Chairman, Kent Developers Group) and Brian Horton (Co-opted Member, Kent Housing Group Executive Board & Housing Advisor, SELEP), were in attendance for this item.

1.    Mr Smith introduced the report that outlined the work of the Kent Developers Group (KDG). 

2.    Mr Fenton and Mr Horton addressed the Committee and highlighted the key objectives, achievements and future challenges that were to be faced by the KDG as it continued to improve its relationship with District Councils in order to deliver quality assured infrastructure and affordable housing.

3.    Mr Fenton and Mr Horton responded to comments and questions as follows:

(a)  With regard to the protection of great crested newts, Mr Fenton informed Committee Members that the KDG had worked with Natural England and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on safeguarding important environmental habits.  The new streamlined approach ensured that both housing developments and habitat environments were strategically planned.

(b)  In response to concerns regarding the membership of the Kent Developers Group, Mr Fenton assured the Committee that both officers and Members had attended meetings. Meetings were held at venues across the county and Members of the Committee would be welcome. 

(c)  Mr Fenton responded to Members concerns regarding the training opportunities highlighted in Commitment 2 of the Planning Protocol and clarified that this was not the statutory training that planners delivered to Council Members. The training opportunities referred to in the Planning Protocol was in regard to joint working opportunities with developers and other bodies (including elected Members) to build capacity and promote a common understanding of issues, approaches and good practice.

(d)  In response to Members’ concerns over the diminution of commercial space, Mr Fenton commented on the issues around Permitted Development Rights (PDR) and the dichotomy of government objectives to provide both commercial space and affordable housing. Mr Horton assured Members that both the Kent Developers Group and Kent Housing Group were keen to support the infrastructure first concept and said that representations had been made to Government regarding its ambition to deliver homes and the requirements of what would be needed to deliver those in a sustainable way to ensure good growth.

(e)  Mr Horton commented on the points raised in relation to affordable housing and recognised the unintended implications as a result of PDR which had placed a strain on a number of communities where vulnerable people from outside of Kent were being placed into Kent accommodation. Mr Horton recognised that this was not a situation unique to Kent and again, a number of representations had been made to Government to ensure that developers were building homes in the right places and to the correct quality assured specification. Mr Horton informed Members that the vast majority of new homes developed under the affordable housing scheme were let through Kent’s Homechoice (the partnership of Local Authorities and Housing Associations) and assured Members that those homes were offered to local people and not those from outside areas.

(f)   Mr Smith assured Members that Kent County Council followed strict guidelines and procedures in relation to planning applications. 

(g)  Mr Fenton agreed to circulate the details of the Kent Developers Group to all Members of the Committee.

4.    It was RESOLVED that the contents of the report, be noted.