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Planning sub-committee
Members of the Planning sub-committee monitor the Sevenoaks District Council’s weekly planning lists to identify those applications of significance, and/or brought to their attention by Society members, with the aim of making appropriate and constructive representations following inspection and consultations on the proposals submitted.
The sub-committee also aims to observe the debates at the Development Control Committee meetings to obtain feed back on decisions on applications.
Where appropriate, they attend site meetings and planning or other inquiries, giving oral and/or written evidence of the latter.
Additional members are always welcome especially with expertise in architecture, planning, urban design, conservation or just general interest.
Contact: Chairman Frank Marshall telephone 01732 453809
‘Planning the Future of Sevenoaks District'
Alan Dyer
PLANNING SUBCOMMITTEE REPORT [May 2009]
While no detailed analysis has been undertaken, it would appear that the level of planning activity during the past twelve months has not been significantly affected by the current credit squeeze, although the emphasis has changed in some respects from previous years. The number of Public Inquiries and Informal Hearings is similar whilst the number of smaller applications for domestic alterations and extensions, approval of details of consented proposals and tree work, etc., has increased.
Taking the Public Inquiries and Informal Hearings first, the major Inquiry of the year was that for the re-development of the West Kent Cold Store, Dunton Green, by Berkeley Homes for up to 500 dwellings and some commercial space and held over four days in April 2008. It was subsequently allowed by the Inspector under the cover of a letter from the Department for Communities and Local Government since it was for a development of over 150 dwellings. An exhibition of the first phase, in the north west corner of the site was held in October 2008 and a detailed planning application for this phase in expected.
Two appeals were linked together for the other single Public Inquiry into the proposal for eleven or seven dwellings in the garden to the rear of No 51 High Street, Sevenoaks, between Rockdale Road and Six Bells Lane, and held over two full days in August 2008. It was very disappointing that the Inspector allowed the appeal since both proposals were extremely poorly designed and totally lacked any sense of townscape, the only possible consolation being that it was for seven and not eleven dwellings!
The three one-day Informal Hearings were for:
22 St George's Road, Sevenoaks, where the existing late Victorian/Edwardian house was to be demolished and replaced by two detached houses and four town houses, the latter being on the site of the existing house, was held in June 2008 and duly allowed.
Land to the south east of 4 Hawkes Place, Grange Road, Sevenoaks, where there was another unsuccessful attempt by the applicant to gain consent to erect a large split-level dwelling in a small semi-wild undeveloped area on the edge of the Kippington Conservation Area.
The two proposals for the re-development of Kingdom Hall, Cedar Terrace Road in the Hartsland area of Sevenoaks were combined in a single Informal Hearing held in September 2008. One proposal was for the demolition of the Hall and the erection of five flats and the other was for the conversion of the Hall into three one-bed flats and an attached two-bedroom house. The latter was the locally preferred option since it retained the Hall which while not a particularly distinguished building, was a feature in the close knit character of the area and was allowed by the Inspector.
Turning to the other planning applications examined during the year, that for the former Caffyns Garage at 166/166A High Street, Sevenoaks, for the demolition of the existing building and the erection of fourteen flats over four retail units was duly approved subject to a 106 Agreement with the Council which underwrites the Conditions but which it is understood has not been completed in this case. The latest news is that it appears that the owner is considering a different form of development. In the meantime, the building has been demolished since it lies between the High Street and The Vine Conservation Areas where no special consent-is needed to do so.
Another attempt to re-develop Hillingdon Lodge, at the corner of Hillingdon Avenue and Hospital Road and formerly part of the Wildernesse Estate, by adding an unsympathetic extension and raising the roof to give a first floor, was again refused and is now the subject of an Informal Hearing. Help and advice was again offered by representatives of the Kent Historic Buildings Committee and The Sevenoaks Society.
A similar and renewed attempt to re-develop 35/37 Quakers Hall Lane by demolishing the existing undertakers' premises and the erection of six two-bedroom flats was again unsuccessful.
Two separate applications for the demolition of the bungalow at 2 Crownfields, Sevenoaks, and replacement by a block of five two-bedroom flats were refused and are now the subject of an Informal Hearing on 29 July 2009.
Our support was requested to oppose the demolition of Oakenshaw, Copse Bank, Seal, an attractive 'arts and crafts' design and its replacement initially by four five-bedroom house which was refused but was followed by a further application for three five-bedroom houses which gained approval.
In February 2009, Sainsbury's on the Otford Road held an exhibition of their proposals to extend the store towards the Otford Road and to provide additional car parking on a new deck over the existing car park facing north towards the other commercial development on the site. This was followed by a formal planning application at the beginning of March upon which a decision is awaited. Subject to acceptable and satisfactory Highway and traffic arrangement, especially at the Bat and Ball junction, it was considered a reasonable proposal and the proposed provision of a decked car park could provide an interesting precedent for the town!
Recently, two new applications
have been submitted for the former BMW Garage at 5 Dartford Road, Sevenoaks,
which have not been inspected but are understood to be alterations to the
internal arrangements, leaving the unfortunate external appearance untouched,
see our comments in the last Annual Report and the Spring 2008 Newsletter!
Also recently, the Kent Police have submitted a revised application for the
former Police Station, Morewood Close, Sevenoaks, in which they have slightly
reduced the number of residential units and office space to be provided from
the earlier application which was refused largely on the grounds of overdevelopment
and dismissed on appeal. To be consistent with the new policies emerging from
the Local Development Framework (LDF), the latest application ought to be
allowed.
On a Saturday morning in May 2008. we attended an impressive presentation by Hines of the principles for their proposals for the re-development of Fort Halstead and we learnt that they were intending/hoping to submit a formal planning application during the following Autumn 2008. So far, one has not appeared although we have been informed that discussions are continuing with the Council's officers.
During the year we were consulted on the draft Appraisals and Management Plans for The Vine and Vine Court Conservation Areas and invited to walk around the two Areas with the Consultant Conservation Officer. We have been advised that both these documents were to be reported to the April Meeting of the Council's Environment Select Committee and that they were to be followed by consultations on similar documents covering Granville and Eardley Road and Kippington and Oakhill Road Conservation Areas.
Since we declined the invitation to join the Executive Committee of TAG, the M26 Slips Traffic Action Group (M26-TAG) due to lack of resources, we have not heard from them, but at the time of writing, it would seem from the current edition of the Sevenoaks Chronicle, there may some renewed activity on this issue.
Our response to the consultation on the Local Development Framework (LDF) Core Strategy - Preferred Options document was duly submitted by the deadline of 6 March 2009. After being approved by the SDC Cabinet in August 2009, it is scheduled for further consultation in September/October 2009 before being submitted to the independent Inspector in December 2009 and examination in March 2010. The Inspector's Report is expected to be received by the District Council in July 2010 and adopted as Policy in September 2010. The submission to the Inspector will be accompanied by the draft of the Allocations DPD (Development Plan Document) which will be based on the SHLAA (Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment) which your chairman, Rob Harcourt, has described in his report. Overall a very lengthy process!!
I remain very grateful to my colleagues on the Sub-committee and on the Executive for their support and encouragement during the past twelve months.
Frank Marshall
Chairman, Planning Sub-committee
