SUPPORTING PLANNING STATEMENT Building at Chapel Mill Farm, Lenham Heath, Kent SUPPORTING PLANNING STATEMENT
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SUPPORTING PLANNING STATEMENT Building at Chapel Mill Farm, Lenham Heath, Kent SUPPORTING PLANNING STATEMENT in support of a planning application for the building operations associated with the change of use of the building and land within its curtilage from Light Industrial use (Class B1c) to 7 dwellinghouses (Class C3) pursuant to Prior Approval reference 20/503164/PNPA at Chapel Mill Farm Lenham Heath Maidstone Kent ME17 2BJ On behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Fairclough Bloomfields is the trading name of Lambert & Foster (Bloomfields) Ltd (company no. 08278915) an owned subsidiary of Lambert & Foster Ltd a Limited Company registered in England and Wales, No 10574225. Registered office 77 Commercial Road, Paddock Wood, Kent TN12 6DS. Supporting Planning Statement BLOOMFIELDS | REF 06.010.2511 2 March 2020 CONTENTS 1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 4 2. Site context ......................................................................................................................... 5 3. Proposal ............................................................................................................................. 7 4. Relevant Policy ................................................................................................................... 9 5. Material Considerations .....................................................................................................11 6. Conclusion .........................................................................................................................14 7 Appendices…………………………………………………………………………………………15 Figure 1 Aerial image of the site Supporting Planning Statement BLOOMFIELDS | REF 06.010.2511 3 March 2020 1. Introduction 1.1. This statement is submitted in support of a planning application for the building operations associated with the change of use of an existing light industrial building into seven residential dwellings, which was recently approved under Prior Approval reference 20/503164/PNPA at Chapel Mill Farm, Lenham Heath. A copy of this decision is attached as Appendix 1. 1.2. This applicant is seeking planning approval in respect of the operational development required in connection with the previously approved change of use of this building. The proposed building works would include alteration to the pitch of the roof (to a height according with that previously approved under reference 20/502506/FULL), for the insertion of windows and doors, and alterations to the external materials on the building. 1.3. This supporting statement provides a written description of the proposed development and is accompanied by drawings to show the application site and the proposed development. Supporting Planning Statement BLOOMFIELDS | REF 06.010.2511 4 March 2020 2. Site context 2.1. The application building is rectangular in shape with mainly blockwork external walls and a pitched roof. There is an adjoining addition with timber clad walls and a corrugated roof sited on the southern elevation. 2.2. The building is located within the site known as Chapel Mill Farm, which comprises a cluster of buildings, including the Grade II listed farmhouse, Chapel Mill, around an area of hardstanding. The site is accessed from a private track which runs north from Lenham Heath Road. The application building is located 20m west of the private access track and 80m north of Lenham Heath Road. 2.3. The site is outside of the village envelope, to the south of Lenham Village, southeast of Sandway, and northwest of Lenham Heath. Extract from site location plan showing the application building outlined in red (not to scale) Supporting Planning Statement BLOOMFIELDS | REF 06.010.2511 5 March 2020 Relevant planning history 2.4. Application reference 20/503164/PNPA granted Prior Approval for the change of use of the building from light industrial (B1) use to seven residential dwellings on the 14th September 2020. A copy of the decision notice is attached as Appendix 1. 2.5. Prior to that, planning application reference 20/502506/FULL granted planning permission for the raising of part of roof of the building on 6th August 2020. Application reference 20/501338/LDCEX granting a Lawful Development Certificate (Existing) as to the existing use of the building for light industrial purposes was certified on 2nd June 2020. Planning history for the wider site 2.6. In respect of the wider site, planning application reference 17/504326/FULL granted planning permission for the conversion of the storage building into five residential units on 4th December 2017, following Lawful Development Certificate (Existing) application reference 16/506887/LDCEX certifying on 15th December 2016 the use of the building for storage. Planning application reference 19/500401/FULL followed, granting planning permission for the provision a new vehicular access from Lenham Heath Road to serve the 5 residential units. 2.7. On 13th May 2014, planning application reference MA/14/0286 was granted permitting the construction of a residential annex. 2.8. Planning application reference MA/03/0371 was granted permission on 6th June 2003 allowing the occupation of Chapel Mill Cottage as a single dwelling house. Other relevant planning applications 2.9. Prior approval was granted for the chnge of use of a light industrial building to use as two dwellings at Unit 6 Little Pivington Farm Hubbards Hill Lenham Maidstone Kent ME17 2EJ (under reference 20/501689). A subsequent proposal for the building works required was approved under reference 20/504012/FULL. Supporting Planning Statement BLOOMFIELDS | REF 06.010.2511 6 March 2020 2.10. Prior approval was granted for the change of use of another light industrial building to residential use at Fairbourne Inch Fairbourne Lane Harrietsham Maidstone Kent ME17 1LQ (under reference 20/502678). A subsequent proposal for the building works required was approved under reference 20/504533. Supporting Planning Statement BLOOMFIELDS | REF 06.010.2511 7 March 2020 3. Proposal 3.1. This application seeks planning permission for operational development associated within the approved change of use of this light industrial building at Chapel Mill Farm to seven dwellinghouses, to include alterations to the pitch of the roof (no higher than previously approved), the insertion of windows and doors and changes to the external materials. 3.2. Whilst Prior Approval application 20/503164/PNPA granted approval for the change of use of the building under Class PA of the Town and Country (General Permitted Development) Order 2019 (as amended), it is acknowledged that any associated works relating to the conversion of the building would require a separate submission, along with the relevant details. This application therefore seeks planning consent for such necessary building operations. 3.3. The main building will accommodate six no. 1 bed residential units, with a seventh 1 bed unit and storage space located in the adjacent addition to the building’s southern elevation. Each residential unit will be accessed via the western elevation: the 6 no. units in the main building will have triple openings which are symmetrically spaced along the elevation. The seventh unit is to be accessed via a double opening door flanked by a floor to ceiling window. Each unit has a window on the eastern elevation, equally spaced along this elevation. The southernmost section of the building is retained as storage, served by a single small window on the western elevation; pedestrian door and 2 small windows on the eastern elevation; and a further pedestrian door and double opening on the southern elevation. There are no openings on the northern elevation. The intention is to create a balanced appearance to the building while serving each residential unit with ample natural light and the storage area with sufficient access. 3.4. The windows and doors are to be finished with a grey frame. 3.5. The existing building is finished with painted block external walls and a corrugated roof. This application seeks to replace the external finish with vertical Yorkshire boarding, along with a fibre cement slate tiled roof. This will be more in keeping with the rural setting, matches the units previously approved at the site under application reference 17/504326/FULL, and reflects the building’s history as originally an agricultural building and latterly a rural, light industrial unit. Supporting Planning Statement BLOOMFIELDS | REF 06.010.2511 8 March 2020 3.6. The location of the proposed windows and doors and proposed materials are fully detailed on drawing number 1461 P002, an extract of which is provided overleaf. Extract from drawing number 1461 P002 4. Relevant policy 4.1. Section 38(6) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 requires that “a determination must be made in accordance with the plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise”. Supporting Planning Statement BLOOMFIELDS | REF 06.010.2511 9 March 2020 4.2. For the purpose of this planning application, the Development Plan comprises the Maidstone Local Plan, which was adopted in October 2017, 4.3. In addition to the development plan the Government published the new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) in April 2019. 4.4. This section of the statement highlights the relevant policies within the Council’s development plan in respect of this application. 4.5. With the principle of the change of use having already been established via Prior Approval decision