CRANBROOK & SISSINGHURST PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE PLANNING & PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
HELD ON 6th OCTOBER 2020
The meeting was held remotely using Zoom software.
Declaration of Interests, Dispensations, Predetermination or Lobbying:
Members are required to declare any interests, dispensations, predetermination or lobbying on items on this agenda. Members are reminded that changes to the Register of Interests should be notified to the Clerk.
Present: Cllr. Smith (in the Chair), Cllrs. Bunyan, Gilbert, Fermor, Hatcher and Kings
Apologies: None received.
Cllr. Bunyan would not take part in any discussion regarding 20/02660 as she had a personal interest.
PLANNING APPLICATIONS:
19/02025/HYBRID
Hawkhurst Golf Club High Street Hawkhurst Cranbrook Kent TN18 4JS
Hybrid Application: Demolition of existing clubhouse, squash courts and ancillary structures, and redevelopment of existing golf course. Full planning permission sought for new relief road and associated earthworks and junctions with A268 and A229. Outline planning permission (all matters reserved for future determination) sought for residential development, a C2/C3 care home, class D1 facilities such as a doctors’ surgery and/or community hall, public car park, public park and associated parking, servicing, utilities, footpath and cycle links, formal and informal open space including woodland planting and recreation facilities, ground and infrastructure works.
The Parish Council recommended REFUSAL on the following reasons:
- Inappropriate development in the AONB.
- Increased traffic going north and through the surrounding villages causing even more air and noise pollution impacting on the well-being of our residents.
- No new proposed employment sites which inevitably means the residents having to travel to work by car or train from Staplehurst.
- Cranbrook and Sissinghurst Parish Council fully supports the reasons for refusing this application made by Hawkhurst Parish Council dated 10th September 2019 and 15th July 2020.
Cllr. Bunyan suggested that if TWBC are minded to approve the application they should insist that the build quality is improved.
Proposed by Cllr. Smith, seconded by Cllr. Gilbert and agreed.
20/02513/FULL
Walton Lodge, Angley Road, Cranbrook, Kent. TN17 2PG
Demolition of the garage; Proposed construction of a pair of detached houses.
The Parish Council recommended REFUSAL for the following reasons:
- A detrimental effect on trees and wildlife/nature conservation – badger sets are on site.
- Within the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and outside the Limits to Build.
- Plans are not detailed enough.
- Proposed dwellings are too large and too dominate for the plot.
- Concern that access is end of narrow driveway for construction traffic.
- Layout and density of buildings – garden grabbing.
Proposed by Cllr. Hatcher, seconded by Cllr. Smith and agreed.
20/02660/FULL
Laneside The Common Sissinghurst Cranbrook Kent TN17 2AE
Proposed extension to existing outbuilding
The Parish Council recommended APPROVAL, subject to a condition that the proposed games room and existing outbuilding remain ancillary to the main dwelling.
REVISED APPLICATIONS:
20/00815/FULL
Land Adjacent to Turnden Hartley Road Cranbrook Kent TN17 3QX
The construction of 165 new dwellings with associated access, car parking, refuse/recycling storage, landscaping, earthworks and other associated works.
Whilst the Parish Council can see some improvement on connectivity and site layout this revision does nothing to address the main concerns of Cranbrook and Sissinghurst Parish Council, which still stand.
The Parish Council recommended REFUSAL for the following reasons:
- Significant harm and damage to the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, to include the medieval field patterns and use of good quality agricultural land.
- Impact on the A229 of traffic flow, air quality and road safety.
- Over intensive development of the site in a less than sustainable and sensitive location.
- Lack of master planning with adjacent developments.
- Poor connectivity to Cranbrook Town and coalescence with Hartley settlement.
- Assessed as unsuitable for development by the emerging NDP.
- Type and mix of housing proposed does not meet with local requirements.
- The affordable properties are grouped closely together and directly adjacent to the Brick Kiln Farm affordable element, rather than distributed throughout the site.
- Query as to whether the housing numbers that TWBC have allocated are necessary?
- Lack of inclusive public consultation at a crucial time of the planning process.
- Cumulative effect on the Crane Valley in terms of flooding and sustainability.
- No Self Builds on site.
- Insufficient Parking, majority at the minimum recommended levels.
- Concern raised regarding spoil distribution withing the site which would impact on surface water flow and run-off situation.
Proposed by Cllr. Smith, seconded by Cllr. Gilbert and agreed.
However, if TWBC are minded to approve the application, the Parish Council request the following conditions are considered: Include provision of an allotment area for residents of Cranbrook & Sissinghurst. Request the developer works with Anne Marie Bolton, the officer dealing with the adjacent Brick Kiln Farm development and Sally Marsh (AONB) to limit the impact of the Anglo-Saxon field patterns. Request the developer works with the Parish Council on the design, layout and mix of housing through further meetings. Confirm there is no intention to develop the remainder of the site.
TREE APPLICATIONS:
None received.
TWBC PLANNING DECISIONS:
The Clerk read out the planning decisions made by TWBC.
APPEAL DECISIONS:
None received.
CORRESPONDENCE:
None received.
ITEMS FOR INFORMATION:
Cllr. Hatcher reported that repair and decorating work was being undertaken on the Windmill.
