Item 9, Page 1 Land at Forge Lane, Bredhurst, Kent
Reference number: 16/504798
Further objection received which is summarised below:
- Village needs starter homes not large detached properties while the Forge Lane/The Street junction will not be able to cope with the additional traffic without major alteration.
- Regarding conversion of the stable building into community use question who will manage, maintain and pay for the facility and what protection will be put in place to ensure that the residents of Bredhurst will not be required to meet any shortfall in running costs.
MBC Landscape:
The site is not located within a conservation area although a number of trees within the proposed development area are subject to TPO 4 of 1977.
The application is accompanied by an arboricultural assessment giving an accurate assessment of the trees present and agree with the tree grading set out.
The development will result in the loss of approximately 5 groups and 25 individual trees. Out of the trees shown for removal only two protected trees ( a Lime T2 and Cedar T36 on the TPO) are to be felled. Both these trees have been graded a C (tree of low quality) on the tree survey. Overall, the loss of the groups and individual trees towards the centre of the site will have little overall effect on the amenity of the area when viewed from surrounding public areas although there would be a loss of some screening when viewed from The Street due to the removal of a number of the trees closer to the site boundary.
Although the development seeks to retain the majority of the better graded trees concerned over the physical impact some of the retained trees will have over the new properties.
Accept the development appears to take into account the below ground constraints by ensuring no development takes place within the root protection areas. However the above ground constraints (such as the casting of shade) does not appear to have been addressed.
Future pressure for inappropriate management of the nearby retained trees on and adjacent to the site is a concern, particularly on plots 2 and 6. The trees to the rear of plot 2 do not appear to be within the applicant’s control, other than the ability to cut back overhanging growth to the boundary and it cannot be relied upon that they will be managed by the landowner.
Problems anticipated to these 2 plots are largely shading (reducing light to rooms of the houses and their gardens), problems within the gardens successfully growing plants and lawns, surface roots causing trip hazards and damp resulting from the long periods of shading. Future occupants may view the trees as overbearing and oppressive for much of the season and be fearful of the trees failing in adverse weather, causing damage to property or harm to occupants. Leaf and seed litter from the trees could be viewed as significant inconvenience/nuisance, particularly if this blocks gutters and gullies, lands on cars and causes a slip hazard on paths and drives.
Amendment to paragraph 2.01 of the committee report as follows:
The proposal includes five parking spaces for the community building, rather than the three referred to in the report as shown on amended plans (ref: 16-10-03-D) received on 8 July 2016. Neighbours and the Parish were re-consulted on the amended plans on 20 July 2016.
Response of Head of Planning and Development:
No objections are raised to the proposal in terms of parking provision or highways safety.
Concerns relating to the housing make up of the of the development are noted. However even if the application was for starter homes, given nature of the application site and the contribution it makes to the character and setting of this part of Bredhurst, any case would have to be particularly compelling to overcome the demonstrable harm identified.
The management and funding of the community facility has not been addressed as part of this submission. Nevertheless should Members not support the recommendation and see fit to grant planning permission a condition could be imposed requiring such details.
Turning to the views of MBC Landscape these conclude the proposed development may well result in future pressure to either fell or carry out inappropriate tree works which it is considered will be harmful to visual amenity.
In the circumstances it is considered this represents additional demonstrable harm arising from the proposal and the recommendation needs to be amended to reflect this.
Recommendation amended as below:
Amended reason for refusal:
In the absence of meeting any demonstrable housing need or other overriding justification, the proposal represents the unjustified incursion of development into adjoining countryside which in its current undeveloped form helps to define and maintain the character and setting of Bredhurst at this point. In addition the proposed houses due to their size, design and siting are also likely to lead to pressure to fell/carry out inappropriate tree works harmful to visual amenity. As such the proposal is harmful to the rural character of the area, landscape quality and setting of the AONB and SLA while compromising the function of the strategic gap in containing the outward spread of settlements. The proposal is therefore contrary to the provisions of policies ENV28, ENV31, ENV33 and ENV34 of the adopted local plan and policy SP17 of the emerging local plan while not constituting sustainable development in accordance with the provisions of the NPPF.