Hadlow Parish Council response to TMBC Planning Dept re: Dandara application – Court Lane

Response to TMBC from Hadlow Parish Council:

Hadlow Parish Council (HPC) objects to the above planning application on the grounds that the site is within the Green Belt and comprises Grade 1 agricultural land which is in short supply. As such the NPPF prohibits development unless ‘very special circumstances’ can be demonstrated by the Applicant and HPC does not believe that the Applicant has achieved this.

In addition, HPC would bring a number of concerns to the attention of TMBC, which we believe are relevant in determining this application:

Highways:

• Court Lane is a relatively narrow road which is unsuitable for HGV’s and is effectively single carriageway for most of its length from the A26 up to the site entrance due to on-street parking. Vehicles frequently have to drive on the pavement to pass through, including those of TMBC’s refuse Contractor and emergency vehicles.
• The access into and egress out of Court Lane from/onto the A26 is extremely difficult at present, there having been a number of accidents in recent years, and with vehicles, particularly larger vans and HGV’s, having to mount the kerb. This part of Court Lane is within the village Conservation Area and buildings already suffer damage from accidents and vibration from heavy traffic.
• The traffic survey undertaken by the Applicant is not relevant or representative, in our view, as this was carried out during a school holiday period and during Lockdown, when traffic flows were clearly reduced significantly.
• A development of this scale is likely to result in many more pedestrians, particularly children, having to use Court Lane, with a clear risk to their safety. The existing pavements are narrow in places making it extremely difficult for parents/carers with buggies.
  
  

Infrastructure:

• The medical centre and the dentist in Hadlow are already fully subscribed and cannot cope with the additional demand which the new Carpenters Lane development will generate. This would be further compromised by the proposed development in Court Lane.
• A £51,696 contribution from the developer, as stipulated by the NHS Strategic Planning & Estates Team in their response, is purely formulaic and in itself guarantees nothing in terms of additional services.
• HPC does not believe that either the medical centre or the dentist in Hadlow are capable of being expanded in terms of their physical building constraints, without relocating and/or requiring substantially higher capital investment.
  
  

Biodiversity:

• The Applicant’s report was written after numerous trees on the site had been removed, with reference made to the historic position having been ‘factored in’. HPC does not believe that this is a true or fair representation of the wildlife or biodiversity of the site and is concerned that no proper provision has been made as a result.
• The proposed development will impact adversely on green space in Hadlow. Such areas must be preserved as their benefit to both physical and mental health is well recognised.
  
  

Scheme Design:

• HPC is concerned about the 21⁄2 and 3 storey elements of the scheme design, as these are not typical in Hadlow. In particular, the 21⁄2 storeys proposed adjoining the Access Trail, The Forstal and Nursery Close are inappropriate and are likely to create overlooking with consequential loss of amenity and possibly infringing rights of light.
• HPC is also concerned that the Applicant has not fully taken into account the flood risks on the site and/or to neighbouring properties from surface water run-off, as we understand that the site was originally designated as the flood run-off when The Forstal was built.
• Car parking provision within the scheme may correspond to KCC minimum standards but is still unlikely to cope with the actual demand from on-site residents and their visitors. This is likely to cause overspill parking to occur in neighbouring roads (i.e. Court Lane, The Forstal and Appletons) which are already very congested. The large majority of residents in The Forstal are elderly and many are disabled to a greater or lesser extent.
• We also understand that the existing Saplings Nursery experiences significantly more demand for car parking than stated by the Applicant. As a result, the car parking provision proposed for the new Nursery building appears to be significantly under-estimated, which is likely to create overspill parking to occur both within the site and also in the surrounding roads. The proposed Nursery is also likely to create light pollution to neighbouring residents.
• The Affordable Housing elements are to be welcomed in any proposed scheme, although HPC is concerned at how affordable these properties will be for local residents and workers and whether the ‘affordability’ will be maintained beyond the first sale.
• The Applicant has placed great weight on the use of footpath past the Churchyard as the principal pedestrian route from the site into the village centre. HPC is concerned at the safety of this route at night as it is mainly unlit.
• Evidence of sustainability is, at best, minimal. HPC believes the above objections clearly show that the Applicant has not demonstrated ‘very special circumstances’ why this proposed development should be approved. If, however, TMBC is minded to grant consent in whole or in part for residential development on the site, HPC believes that the following Conditions or Restrictions should be imposed. In no particular order these are:
• Traffic calming measures should be introduced in Court Lane to reduce the speed of vehicles. This should certainly include relocating the existing 60mph speed limit to the east and might also include the introduction of speed humps between the site entrance and the A26 and a chicane (possibly with Hadlow Village gates) to the east of the site entrance.
• Ways in which Court Lane can be widened should be investigated, possibly including converting the northern pavement to roadway, although we fully accept that this would be controversial and problematic for the residents directly affected.
• It would also be advisable to improve the safety of the junction of Court Lane with The Forstal by introducing double yellow lines in Court Lane either side of The Forstal for a short distance.
• Overspill parking from residents of the site and their visitors into Court Lane, The Forstal and Appletons must be avoided, for the safety of existing residents and to avoid nuisance. This should be fully investigated and might be achieved by way of highly localised restricted parking and/or permits, although the practicalities, affordability and enforceability of such a scheme are unclear.
• TMBC should satisfy itself independently regarding the traffic implications of any scheme and, if appropriate, seek a new traffic survey to be undertaken at peak/normal traffic flow times.
• TMBC should also satisfy itself independently that the flood risks from surface water run-off for the site and neighbouring properties are within acceptable limits.
• A Construction Traffic Management Plan should be agreed and enforced to ensure that HGV movements during the development are carefully controlled and, in particular, that left turns from the A26 into Court Lane and the use of alternative routes (e.g. Cemetery Lane and via Golden Green) are prohibited.
• The car parking demand for the proposed new Nursery should be re-examined and, if necessary, the capacity of the Nursery reduced accordingly.
• HPC would like to see a scheme put in place to preserve and guarantee the discounted Affordable Housing element in perpetuity and to ensure that local residents and workers (i.e. from Hadlow) have first refusal wherever possible.
• All existing mature trees and shrubs etc along the boundaries of the site should be retained, in order to maintain maximum screening for neighbouring properties particularly in The Forstal, Court Lane and Nursery Close. Replacement trees will take many years to reach maturity.
• Lighting of the pedestrian footpath along the Churchyard should be improved.
• If the 21⁄2 and/or 3 storeys elements of the scheme are to remain, adequate screening from exiting neighbouring properties should be imposed, including the use of restricted openings and opaque glazing of windows to prevent over-looking and loss of amenity.
• All permitted development rights for the scheme should be removed including a restriction on the future conversion of garages and car ports to habitable accommodation – in order to retain as much formal parking on the site as possible.
• Some of the above concerns would be ameliorated if the scheme were to be reduced significantly in size.