Below-ground sewage plant at Perryhill Nursery, Hartfield

What was proposed

The application sought a below-ground sewage treatment plant serving five new toilet cubicles in an existing barn lean-to.

“Application WD/2025/1487/F Report to: Minors Planning Committee Date: November 2025 Site address: PERRYHILL NURSERY, PERRYHILL LANE, HARTFIELD, TN7 4JP Proposal: PROPOSED INSTALLATION OF A BELOW-GROUND SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT.”

“Executive Summary The site comprises Perryhill Nursery, a redundant horticultural nursery, located approximately 1.8km to the north of the village of Hartfield and wholly within the High Weald National Landscape (formerly High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).”

Officer report

Officers’ recommendation

Officers recommended approval, explaining that the Environment Agency permit process is separate from planning and does not determine the planning decision.

“Legal advice is that the application resolution is unsound, and the application must be remitted back to committee to correct these matters. In all other respects the application is unchanged and as reported to Minors Committee on 16 October 2025, aside from some further information relating to the Environment Agency permit process. The report from 16 October 2025 is appended to this report for information. Approval is recommended.”

“This scheme is otherwise unchanged from the development considered at the Minors Committee on 16 October 2025, aside from some further information relating to the Environment Agency (EA) permit process, which the applicant is required to consider, and this is set out below for members attention. The October 2025 Minors Committee report, which details all material considerations is appended to this report. Environment Agency Permit…”

Officer report

Concerns raised

The application was referred for closer examination of neighbours’ amenity concerns and concerns from the Upper Medway Internal Drainage Board.

“Reason for Referral This application was originally referred to the Committee because the Chair, Cllr Wilson, declined to allow a delegated decision for the following reasons:”

“So that a more detailed examination can take place of the concerns raised a) by neighbours in relation to the impact on their amenity, and b) by one of the statutory consultees, the Upper Medway Internal Drainage Board (UMIDB).”

Officer report

Who spoke

The applicant and a tenant on the site spoke in favour, while a ward member’s statement was read to the committee.

The committee vote

Councillor Benton proposed approval and Councillor Redman seconded it, in line with the officer recommendation.

“A motion was proposed by Councillor Benton, seconded by Councillor Redman to grant planning permission, in line with Officer recommendation.”

Minutes

The decision

Full planning permission was granted subject to the conditions and informatives in the agenda report.

“RESOLVED: That Full planning permission be granted, subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the Agenda report.”

Minutes

Conditions and informatives

The permission requires commencement within three years and compliance with the approved plans, alongside drainage, environmental permit and other informatives.

“Conditions and Informatives 1. The development to which this permission relates shall be begun not later than the expiration of three years beginning with the date on which this permission is granted.”

“NOTE 2: To discharge treated sewage effluent to ground, you must either comply with all the general binding rules (GBRs) for small sewage discharges or obtain a discharge to surface water and groundwater environmental permit from the Environment Agency. If you cannot meet all the GBRs, it is an offence to discharge treated effluent without a permit.”

Officer report