Loft floors and entrance gate at M C L Ltd, Upper Halling, Rochester

“The proposal seeks to amend the previously approved scheme to allow for loft floors within all dwellings other that unit 6 together with the installation of a vehicular and pedestrian access gate at the entrance of the site.”

“The proposed vehicular gate would be located at the entrance of the site set back approximately 6m from Bradley Road and would comprise of a 1m metal fin gate together with a 1.8m pedestrian gate.”

“MC/24/2198 Details pursuant to condition 7 (Cycle Storage) and 9 (Refuse Storage) on planning permission MC/22/2915 for construction of eight new residential dwellings with associated hard and soft landscaping - demolition of existing building. Decision: Discharged Decided: December 2024”

“MC/24/2482 Details pursuant to conditions 15 (CSWMP) and 16 (Sustainable Drainage) on planning permission MC/22/2915 for Construction of eight new residential dwellings with associated hard and soft landscaping - demolition of existing buildings Decision: Discharged Decided: January 2025”

“The approved scheme facilitates two car parking spaces for each dwelling together with two visitor parking spaces. The Medway Interim Parking Standards state that a dwelling comprising of 3 bedrooms must provide 2 car parking spaces.”

“The proposal does not impact on the acceptability of the principle of the development, while the details are acceptable in design, amenity, car parking and other highway considerations. The variation complies with the objectives of the Medway Local Plan 2003, in particular Policies BNE1, BNE2 T1 and T13 and paragraphs 116, 131, 135 of the NPPF 2024 and is recommended for approval.”

“Construction is already causing impact on amenity. Loft rooms will unacceptably increase number of residents on site and therefore cars. Parking is a problem in the area and 2 spaces per dwelling is not enough for properties of this size. Dwellings are too big for the site. Entrance gates will cause segregation and stop new residents from integrating into the existing community. Gates will cause noise disturbance through constant opening and closing.”

“Dickens Country Protection Society has written to advise that the proposal is reasonable in design terms but could result in demands for dormer windows which would cause overlooking. The scheme relies on tandem parking and there is not enough car parking provided to serve the dwellings as proposed to be extended.”

“The Service Manager - Development Management outlined the application in detail for the variation of condition 2 (approved plans) to allow for a minor material amendment to planning permission MC/22/2915 for the addition of loft floors to all units except unit 6 and the provision of an entrance gate.”

“Following a query from a Member, the Service Manager – Development Management confirmed that the reason this planning application had come to the Planning Committee was because there had been 5 or more representations contrary to the officer’s recommendation.”

“Approved with conditions 1 to 9 as set out in the report for the reasons stated in the report.”