Agenda item

The Committee considered the report and the urgent update reports of the Head of Planning and Development.

Mr Spooner, for objectors, Councillor Horne of Thurnham Parish Council, Councillor Ash of Bearsted Parish Council, Ms Scott, for the applicant, and Councillors de Wiggondene and Cuming (Visiting Members) addressed the meeting.

During the discussion specific reference was made to the proposed financial contributions to mitigate the impact of the development on local schools having regard to current capacity issues. It was suggested that the Head of Planning and Development be given delegated powers to agree with Kent County Council (Education) both the amounts of the contributions and where they are to be spent. 

RESOLVED:  That subject to the prior completion of a S106 legal agreement in such terms as the Interim Head of Legal Partnership may advise to secure the following:

The provision of 30% affordable residential units within the application site, 60% rental and 40% shared ownership;

A healthcare contribution of £808.20 per dwelling to be invested in Bearsted Medical Practice which is located within one mile of the proposed development;

A primary education contribution, the Head of Planning and Development acting under delegated powers to agree with Kent County Council (Education) both the amount of the contribution and where it is to be spent;

A secondary education contribution, the Head of Planning and Development acting under delegated powers to agree with Kent County Council (Education) both the amount of the contribution and where it is to be spent;

A contribution of £31.75 per dwelling for community learning to be used to address the demand from the development for the provision of new/expanded facilities and services both through dedicated adult education centres and through outreach community learning facilities local to the development; the identified project in this instance being the supply of new IT equipment to St Faiths Adult Education Centre in Maidstone;

A contribution of £31.78 per dwelling to be used to address the demand from the development for youth services locally; the identified project in this instance being the provision of new furniture for InFoZoNe Youth Centre;

A contribution of £127.09 per dwelling to be used to address the demand from the development for additional book stock and services at local libraries serving the development; the identified project in this instance being the supply of additional book stock and moveable shelving to Bearsted Library;

A contribution of £53.88 per dwelling to be used to address the demand from the development for the provision of new/expanded facilities and services both on site and local to the development including assistive technology and enhancement of local community facilities to ensure full DDA access; the project in this instance being enhancements to the Dorothy Goodman Centre (Age UK) at Madginford;

A contribution of up to £15,000 for improvements at Bearsted railway station to promote sustainable access, the amount to be finalised by the Head of Planning and Development acting under delegated powers;

A contribution towards the upgrading of PRoW KH127 to Church Lane, the amount to be finalised by the Head of Planning and Development acting under delegated powers following discussions with KCC PRoW and the applicant; and

The inclusion of a LEMP together with the provision and on-going management of land north of the application site within the ownership of the applicant, 

the Head of Planning and Development be given delegated powers to grant outline permission subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the report as amended by the second urgent update report.

Voting:  12 – For  1 – Against  0 - Abstentions