Social Value Ideas for Ashford Borough Council

Inquiry into housing appeal

The meeting opened a public inquiry into an appeal against the council’s refusal of a mixed development proposal: up to 145 homes with 50 affordable units, plus a separate country park, sports pitches…

“good morning inspector yes we can all hear you everything well that's good i was just having a slight problem with um unmuting and and getting a video…”

Council accepts 141-unit amendment

The council confirmed it did not object to the formal request to amend the development description to up to 141 dwellings and would try to agree the wording of the associated condition. This is a key …

“the council is content with the um proposed amendment and does not object to the request now formally made by mr white in relation to the uh descripti…”

Amend scheme to 141 homes

The appellant formally requested an amendment to the description of development from the higher figure to up to 141 dwellings, with a related condition limiting the site to no more than 141 units. The…

“we obviously have noticed over the course of the inquiry the concern that you've expressed about the 141 and the master plan indeed you picked me up u…”

Updated NPPF and housing supply

Officers told members that the newly published NPPF and housing delivery test results took immediate effect and had to be treated as material considerations. The housing land supply position fell to 3…

“Speaker 7: Thank you, chair. Yes. I just wanted to, update and summarize for members, particularly for the, the applications on this evening's agenda,…”

141-home mixed scheme

The appellant promoted a substantial mixed-use residential scheme at Tenterden, combining housing, affordable housing, a country park and sports facilities. This is a clear development opportunity rat…

“so sir the appellant proposes up to 141 homes which 50 will be affordable and a country park and sports on the site adjacent to tenterton which is agr…”

Local plan spatial strategy defended

The council argued that the appeal would conflict with the adopted local plan’s spatial strategy, which prioritises growth in Ashford and only limited development in more rural, sensitive locations su…

“on behalf of the council we concluded by saying that the council considers that the claim benefits of the appeal scheme are significantly and demonstr…”

Significant housing shortfall

The council’s witness accepted that the borough was facing a significant housing shortfall, and that this should be considered in the planning balance and five-year housing land supply calculations. T…

“we note um at 2.76 let's just look at the context that at the time when the plan was emerging there had been a shortfall between 2011 to 2018 of 2462 …”

Green Stables self-build home

The committee approved a new self-build dwelling, detached car barn and associated infrastructure on land north of the bungalow in Green Lane, Chollock. Officers considered the site not sustainably lo…

“Speaker 15: Thank you, chairman. Good evening, members. This application seeks planning permission for the change of use of land for the erection of o…”

Five-year housing supply defended

The council defended its five-year housing land supply position and said its current calculation stood at 4.54 years. It argued the supply was robust despite the appellant’s challenges over the monito…

“as is agreed in the state of common ground the council's most recent five-year housing land supply position is set out within the update document nove…”

Landscape harm central issue

The council maintained that the proposal would permanently damage the rural landscape setting of Tenterden and transform the edge of settlement into a more urban form. This was a core refusal reason a…

“the council considers that the proposed development would cause serious and permanent harm to the character appearance of the area that harm being the…”

Large habitat loss from development

The witness confirmed that 9.88 hectares of habitat would be lost from a 24.32 hectare site, including grassland, hedgerows, scrub, small areas of woodland and other low-value areas. The exchange show…

““and then in terms of the um the current condition of the site we know and you've set out in uh if you go on in appendix 1 to paragraphs 2.72 and onwa…”

Long-term management and monitoring

The ecology witness stated that the success of the biodiversity proposals depends on long-term ecologically led management and monitoring, including mowing, cutting, possible reseeding and periodic re…

““and i think we can see if you just go back to your tables we were on on page 20 of your appendices and if you look at this uh 7.91 hectares of other …”

Ancient tree root zone encroachment

For the ancient/veteran tree T381, the key concern was whether the pitch and associated ground works would encroach into the root protection area and buffer zone. The discussion cited standing advice …

“within the standing advice it advises that ancient trees are exceptionally valuable um and within there it provides some measure of varying how the bu…”

£34k tree replacement contribution

A financial mitigation payment of about £34,000 was discussed as a contribution to replacement planting by Kent County Council. The point was that the money would fund new trees, likely around 35-36 t…

“well i can start um at least um i maybe mr smith may want to come in um looking at the uh wider aspects again the more landscape aspects um mitigation…”