Nine homes at Smeeds Farm, Church Street, Whitstable

“PROPOSAL: Demolition of redundant commercial/light industrial buildings and felling of trees within the conservation area, and erection of 9 dwellings with associated landscaping, car parking and alteration of existing access…”

“APPLICATION TYPE: Full planning application…”

“The application site is located within Whitstable and comprises the Smeeds Farm House, which has a frontage onto Church Street, with single storey rear addition, a one/two storey former dairy/workshop building located to the north of the cottage, a redundant shop building (No.1) and garage that fronts Bridge Approach, the existing access into the site (from Castle Street), which is close to the junction with Bridge Approach, the site’s parking and turning area on…”

“The topography of the application site rises from the access to the former workshop building, and the garden falls from east to west towards the rear boundary of the site. Surrounding the site, Bridge Approach comprises mostly bungalows (with some accommodation within the roof space), the properties in Ivy House Road comprise a 3/4 storey block of flats and two storey houses, with separate areas for garages.”

“During the course of the application, the proposal has been the subject of a number of changes, including a reduction in the number of proposed dwellings from 13 to 9 and the layout, design and appearance of the proposed dwellings (including the alteration to the existing access, rather than proposed a new access).”

“For the reasons set out above, it is recommended that planning permission be granted subject to appropriate safeguarding conditions and the completion of a legal agreement.”

“On the basis of the assessment above, the proposed development complies with the relevant policies of the adopted Local Plan. The draft Local Plan to 2040 is a material consideration in the assessment of this application. Having regard to the relevant policies in the draft Local Plan and the weight of the draft Local Plan, it does not indicate that a decision should be made other than to approve the application on the basis of the assessment above.”

“KCC Highways and Transportation - no objection, subject to conditions re: Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP), provision and retention of proposed parking spaces, EV Charging Points, turning facilities and visibility sightlines…”

“KCC Ecology - no objections, subject to conditions re: provision of ecological enhancements, lighting plan and suitable protection of existing ecological features…”

“A site notice was placed in the vicinity of the site, an advert was placed in the local press and neighbouring properties received letters informing them of the application. The application has been amended during the course of the application and has been subject to more than one round of consultation. In total, 101 representations (81 to the original scheme and 20 to the revised plans) have been received, objecting to the application on the following grounds:”

“Harm to highway and pedestrian safety and need for further highway safety measures • Overlooking and loss of privacy, outlook and security for occupiers of Bridge Approach properties and those others close by • Loss of wildlife, harm to wildlife and ecology/biodiversity, loss of trees, loss of green space • Impact on conservation area and heritage • Increase in noise and general disturbance and light pollution • Overbearing an enclosing form of development and over…”

“A proposal was put that planning permission be GRANTED on the development described in the above application.”

“When put to a vote the proposal was AGREED with the inclusion that: • The requirement for native planting to be added to condition 11. • An informative requesting the applicant considers a fabric first approach on the energy efficiency of the approve dwellings.”

“For the proposal (6): Councillors Buckman, Edwards, Forrester, Prentice, N Smith, and I Stockley…”