Additional documents:
Minutes:
All Members stated that they had been lobbied.
The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning and Development.
Councillor Clarke of Boxley Parish Council and Mr Booth, for the applicant, addressed the meeting.
Contrary to the recommendation of the Head of Planning and Development, the Committee agreed to refuse permission. In making this decision, Members felt that the development would cause an unacceptable and unjustified loss of ancient woodland, which would have adverse effects upon an irreplaceable habitat and the ecological importance of the site. This would be contrary to policy DM3 of the final draft Maidstone Local Plan (2011 – 2031) and paragraph 118 of the National Planning Policy Framework. The benefits of the development were not considered to outweigh this significant harm.
RESOLVED: That permission be refused for the following reason:
The development would cause an unacceptable and unjustified loss of ancient woodland, which would have adverse effects upon an irreplaceable habitat and the ecological importance of the site. This would be contrary to policy DM3 of the final draft Maidstone Local Plan (2011 – 2031) and paragraph 118 of the National Planning Policy Framework. The benefits of the development are not considered to outweigh this significant harm.
Voting: 8 – For 1 – Against 2 – Abstentions