Two self-build dwellings at Land To The Rear Of 244 - 250 Upper Fant Road, Maidstone

What was proposed

The application proposed two contemporary self-build dwellings on land behind Upper Fant Road, with garages or parking and private amenity areas.

“Dwelling 1 would have a garage on the front boundary facing Upper Fant Road, with the dwelling positioned closely behind it. A side gate adjacent to the garage allows an access to the enclosed site with the front door immediately beyond it. The utility room and WC are enclosed, with the kitchen/diner overlooking the nature reserve and the living area to the rear of the property overlooking the amenity area. The stairs to first floor are located opposite the front door.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The backland site was derelict and overgrown, beside a nature reserve and allotments, with access through an existing under-croft route.

“The site is in the Maidstone Urban Area on the south-east side of Upper Fant Road to the rear of the terraced properties at 244 – 250 Upper Fant Road. The rear site boundary adjoins Fant Nature Reserve and allotment gardens, with the railway line beyond. The site is not in a conservation area and there are no listed buildings in the vicinity of the site.”

“The existing under-croft vehicular site access from Upper Fant Road is located at lower ground floor level at 248 Upper Fant Road, a two storey mid-terrace property. The vehicle access also serves several lock up garages close to the site entrance located in the rear gardens of neighbouring properties and outside the application site boundary.”

Officer report

Why officers supported it

Officers considered the location sustainable and the proposal acceptable in relation to design, neighbours, accommodation, highways, ecology and biodiversity.

“RECOMMENDATION: GRANT PLANNING PERMISSION subject to planning conditions…”

“SUMMARY OF REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION: • Sustainable location for residential development in the Maidstone Urban Area • Current recommendation is consistent with two previous decisions to grant permission for residential development on this site. • Acceptable in relation to character and setting of the wider area • Acceptable in relation to amenity of neighbouring properties and standard of accommodation.”

Officer report

Main planning issues

Officers assessed the urban location, brownfield land, character, neighbour amenity, living space, highways, protected species and biodiversity net gain.

“Planning Committee Report 15 January 2026 5.0 CONSULTATION RESPONSES (Please note summaries of consultation responses are set out below and comments are discussed in more detail in appraisal section where necessary) Environmental Health: No objection subject to conditions relating to: •Land contamination •Internal/external sound levels •Construction Method Statement Kent Highways: Does not meet threshold criteria for KCC Highways involvement.”

“The application site is in the designated Maidstone Urban Area and in a sustainable location. The removal of the non-confirming former vehicle repair use and the redevelopment of the site for residential accommodation is generally supported by policies LPRSS1 and LPRSP2 subject to other adopted policies.”

Officer report

Who addressed the committee

Councillor Harper, as visiting member, and a representative of the Fant Wildlife Group, as an objector, addressed the meeting.

The decision

Permission was granted subject to the report’s conditions, delegated powers and changes concerning contamination, drainage, the nature reserve and external lighting.

“That permission be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report with:”

“The amendment of condition 20 (Contamination of the Site) to require a bund to prevent any exposed contaminated material from flowing/falling into the adjacent Fant Nature Reserve;”

Minutes

Changes to the conditions

The committee amended contamination and lighting conditions and added a condition requiring agreed foul sewage and surface water disposal measures.

“The amendment of condition 20 (Contamination of the Site) to allow works to commence and the concrete base and derelict buildings on the site to be removed to enable testing for potential contaminants associated with all previous uses to be carried out;”

“An additional condition relating to the implementation of foul sewage and surface water disposal measures which have been agreed in consultation with Southern Water and seek to protect the adjacent Fant Nature Reserve; and…”

Minutes