Three residential dwellings at Woodlands, Preston Hill, Wingham, Canterbury

“The application site relates to land surrounding the 1½ storey detached dwellinghouse Woodlands, located on the east side of Preston Hill, to the north of Wingham. The land is currently residential garden associated with Woodlands and is bounded by woodland to the east, an access (serving Grove Lodge) to the north and an access to the south (also serving Hill Crest, Bircham House and Broomhill). This is shown on Figure 1.”

“The proposals are to erect three dwellings with associated parking at the site. Two dwellings (plots 2 and 3 with 3 bedrooms) would be accessed via the existing vehicular access to the north of Woodlands and the third dwelling (plot 1 with 4 bedrooms) would be accessed via the existing access further south. This is shown in Figure 2.”

“DOV/20/00453 - Erection of 3no. holiday lodges, service cabin to include office, store, toilets, shower and washroom, bin storage, retaining wall and steps, replacement 1.8m fencing, access track, additional car parking, turning area and alterations to existing vehicular access (existing fence, gate and outbuilding to be demolished) – Granted…”

“Third party Representations: 38 representations in objection to the proposals have been received and are summarised below. Matters such as impact on property values are not material considerations and have not been included below. • Would impede and endanger the public footpath • Highways/access: o Traffic on the hill is already hazardous and dangerous and this would add to it, proposed site is at an uncontrolled 5 way unlit junction.”

“Residential amenity o Adjoining residents currently under threat of building on both side of their property, potentially changing their living conditions, this is the second application adjacent to the same residents. • Principle o Does not meet the criteria for SP4. Is not of a scale commensurate with existing settlement, loss of important green spaces, would have an adverse impact on living conditions of existing adjoining residents.”

“Councillor Nee indicated his agreement with the report’s assessment of the scheme and recommendation. However, he pointed out that KCC’s Ecology Officer required an updated BNG assessment to be submitted prior to determination. He noted that satellite images showed the presence of trees on the site until 2025 when they were felled. Legislation sought to prevent the clearance of application sites prior to planning permission being granted.”

“The Senior Planner stated that she understood that the aerial images submitted by KCC related to land outside the applicant’s ownership. She had sought clarification from KCC on the dates the images were taken. The report recommendation was to grant planning permission subject to BNG being agreed, and she assured Members that the details would be resolved before permission was granted.”

“RESOLVED: (a) That, subject to Biodiversity Net Gain being agreed, Application No DOV/25/00429 be APPROVED subject to the following conditions:”

“(b) That powers be delegated to the Head of Planning and Development to settle any necessary planning conditions, obligations and reasons in line with the issues set out in the recommendation and as resolved by the Planning Committee.”