Issue - meetings

Report DRR/14/064

Members considered whether the Portfolio Holder for Renewal and Recreation should be requested to confirm the making of an Article 4 Direction to remove permitted development rights for specific classes of development on land at New Barn Lane, Westerham. 

Located within the Green Belt, this land had recently been advertised for sale and whilst it was considered to have limited development potential, there was concern that in the foreseeable future, the land could be divided and sold in the form of separate plots.

Ward Member Councillor Scoates reported that situations such as this were becoming increasingly frequent.  Part of the land being considered was an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and should be protected.  The making of an Article 4 Direction would prevent the land from being partitioned into separate plots.  Councillor Scoates emphasised the need for the Direction to be made with immediate effect and moved in favour of the proposal. 

Councillor Michael agreed with Councillor Scoates and seconded the motion.

It was reported that any forthcoming compensation claims were likely to be relatively low in value when compared with other forms of development.

RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder for Renewal and Recreation be requested to authorise the making of an Article 4 Direction for land at New Barn Lane, Westerham, to remove permitted development rights for the following classes of development:

(i)  the erection or construction of gates, fences, walls or other means of enclosure (Class A of Part 2);

(ii)  the formation, laying out and construction of means of access (Class B of Part 2);

(iii)  the provision of temporary buildings, etc. (Class A of Part 4);

(iv)  the temporary use of land for any purpose for not more than 28 days per year (Class B of Part 4); and

(v)  the use of land as a caravan site (Class A of Part 5).

For (i) and (iv) above, this would be a Direction with immediate effect and for (v) the earliest possible effect (as explained in Section 7 of the report).