Agenda item

(1)             Mr P M Harman informed the Committee that he was the Local Member for this application.  As he had not commented on this application in this capacity or as a Borough or Town Councillor, he was able to approach its determination with an open mind.

(2)         The Head of Planning Applications Group informed the Committee of correspondence from the Local Member, Mrs P T Cole in support of the Proposal.

(3)         The Head of Planning Applications Group informed the Committee of correspondence from Stone PC in support of the Proposal.

(4)         The Head of Planning Applications Group referred to paragraph 112 of the report in which it was stated that the applicant did not propose piling.  She said that some piling would be taking place in Eastern Quarry.  This was, however, covered by the Condition in the recommendations which had been recommended by Thames Water.   

(5)         The Clerk to the meeting read out written representations to the Committee which had been received from Mr Gordon Pratt (Managing Director of KENEXTram) as well as the reply on behalf of the applicants from Ms Deborah Day from Jacobs. 

(6)       The Committee agreed to add an additional Informative requesting the applicant to further consider not infilling the northern tunnel and to consider an alternative means of blocking off the tunnel.

(7)         On being put to the vote, the recommendations of the Head of Planning Applications Group (which had been seconded by Mr H Rayner after having been formally moved by the Chairman) were unanimously agreed as amended in (6) above.

(8)       RESOLVED that:-

(a)          permission be granted to the proposal subject toconditions, including conditions coveringthe standard3 yeartime limit; thedevelopmentbeing carriedout inaccordancewith thepermitteddetails; the submission andapprovalof detailsof externalhardlandscape materialsand the proposed fencing; the submission and approval of adetailedsustainablesurface water drainagescheme includingappropriateoperational, maintenance andaccess requirements prior to commencement; the submissionand approvalof aVerificationReport pertainingtothe surfacewater drainagesystem todemonstrate the suitablemodelled operationof thedrainage system; the submission prior to commencement of details to satisfactorilydemonstratethe diversion of thewater assetto preventthe potentialfor damageto the subsurface potable waterinfrastructure; the submissionand approvalof further details ofthelength and depth ofthe provisionof twin 800mmdiameter pipesand headwallproposedas aculvertforthe EasternQuarry where it crossesthe proposedaccessroad; arrangementsto addressany unforeseencontaminationfound duringdevelopment; arrangementsto reviewthe airquality dust impactassessment inthe eventof unforeseencontamination; the submission  and  approval  of  details  of  the highways  design  improvements  which are to beincorporated intothe schemeto address the minimum stagger distance, the  provision of raised kerbs and call forward demand; an ecologicalsurvey, a pre-constructionbird surveyand supervisionbeingcarried outin accordancewith the details set outin theapplication, including measuresto securea EuropeanProtected Species MitigationLicence fromNatural England in order toprovide amechanism toensure thatany mitigation/compensation is  safe from   foreseeable   development   and   habitat managementthreats; the submission andapprovalof externallightingdetails, includingthe impacts ofexternal lightingto batsand accordingwith TheInstitute ofLighting Professionals Batand ArtificialLightingin theUK GuidanceNote08/18; the submission andapproval ofdetails of theproposed landscapeplanting,including native speciesandsuitabilityfor beepollinationwhereappropriate in order toaddress the concernsraised bythe Dartford BCand theHighway Authorityrelating to theimpact uponpotentialdesire linesand highwayconsiderations; the submissionand approval ofdetails ofthe finalprofileand appearanceof theexisting tunnel faceto thewestand eastof theexisting tunnels andanylandscaping requirements; the submissionand approvalof detailsofthe proposedfalse tunnelor tunnelhood; thesubmission andapprovalprior to commencementof aConstructionEnvironment ManagementPlan, includingdetails in respect of the mitigation ofdust andair quality measuresduring construction; the submissionand approvalprior tocommencement ofa ConstructionManagement Plan inrespect of operationalhoursduring construction,routing ofconstructionand delivery vehicles,parkingand turningareas forconstruction vehicles, deliveryvehiclesand site personnel,timing ofdeliveries, provisionof wheelwashing facilitiesandanytemporary traffic managementand signage; the restriction of piling unlessa pilingmethod statementhas beensubmittedand approved; the submission priorto commencement ofa methodstatement, incorporatinga timeline inrespect of vegetationremoval andconsiderationsinrespect of allprotected/designated species; and

(b)      the Applicant be advised by Informative of:-

(i)           the need fora EuropeanProtected SpeciesMitigation Licence(EPSL) fromNatural England in order to providea mechanismto ensurethat anymitigation/compensationis safe fromforeseeable developmentand habitatmanagement threats;

(ii)        the need for developerconsultation withthe relevantutility companies;

(iii)      waste managementadvice from theEnvironment Agency,including advice thatin relationto contamination;

(iv)      the EnvironmentAgency’s advice regarding permittingand waste transportation requirements to andfromthe development;

(v)       the need for the drainageconnection forthe tunnelto haveregard tothe watermanagement strategiesforboth theBluewater andEastern Quarrydevelopments;

(vi)      the advice from theEnvironment Agencythat thetunnelling activityshould beundertaken in amannernot likelyto createimpacts onthe underlyingchalkaquifer, havingregard to potentialwater abstractionsin thevicinity; and

(vii)     advice fromThames Waterin respect of workingnear itsundergroundwaste water assets, surfaceand foulwater drainage andpiling andworking incloseproximity to the undergroundstrategic watermain and utility infrastructure; and

(viii)    the Committee’s request for the applicant to further consider not infilling the northern tunnel and to consider an alternative means of blocking off the tunnel.