Agenda item

The report before Members considered an application for the erection of 394 dwellings comprising 175 houses and 219 flats on land adjacent to Dovers Corner, Rainham.

The application was deferred at the 25 August meeting of the Committee to enable staff to clarify the position regarding affordable housing. It also gave the opportunity for members to highlight any issues they felt were not addressed within the published report. In addition the advice from the Health and Safety Executive had also been re-evaluated in the light of clarification on the safeguarding zones and the re-location of the northern pipeline. These matters were addressed in an update section in the report and in changes to the main report as necessary.

In accordance with the public speaking arrangements the Committee was addressed by an objector with a response by the applicant’s agent.

The objector commented that he was speaking on behalf of the MP for the area who had been contacted by concerned constituents regarding healthcare and education provision in the area. However following re-assurances from the applicant, regarding possible healthcare and education provision, the MP was now supporting the application.

In response the applicant’s agent commented that the application formed part of the Rainham and Beam Park Masterplan and that the proposal had been amended significantly to meet with Member’s original concerns.

With its agreement Councillors Phil Martin and David Durant addressed the Committee.

Councillor Martin commented that the proposal failed to provide enough parking provision and that the higher storied blocks were out of keeping with the openness of the surrounding area. Councillor Martin also commented that there still existed foul smells in the area from the nearby sewage works. Councillor Martin concluded by commenting that the Council had recently agreed that going forward new housing developments should provide as much parking provision as they could.

Councillor Durant commented that he shared the view that the application failed to deliver regarding parking provision. Councillor Durant also commented that the application being considered was the first within the proposed housing zone and that if the application was agreed with inadequate parking provision then it would set a dangerous precedent for the rest of the zone.

During the debate Members discussed the parking provision on the site and the public transport links in the area.

Members also discussed the access and egress arrangements proposed for the site and the possible medical and educational provision within the area.

Members agreed that the proposal before them was an improvement on what had previously been submitted but felt there was still some enhancements that could be made to the application.

The report recommended that planning permission be approved however following a motion to defer consideration of the report it was RESOLVED that consideration of the report be deferred to give the applicant the opportunity to address the following:

·       Clarification of possible health related infrastructure.

·       Poor, bulky, cluttered visual impact arising from the extent of unarticulated, uniform approach towards design.

·       Highway safety and pedestrian crossing implication related to single point access/egress.

·     Insufficient onsite and on road parking provision which would encourage extensive competition between occupiers and visitors for spaces to the detriment of living conditions, amenity and safety. The maximum parking standard would be more suited to the site.

The vote for the resolution to defer consideration of the report was carried by 6 votes to 4.

Councillors Donald, Hawthorn, Nunn, Whitney, Johnson and Burton voted for the resolution to defer consideration of the report.

Councillors Best, Brice-Thompson, Kelly and Wallace voted against the resolution to defer consideration of the report.