Issue - meetings

Report DRR19/042

Members considered the possibility of making an Article 4 Direction for Land at New Years Lane, Knockholt, to remove permitted development rights for various classes of development following reports that the area had been divided into 92 plots which were being advertised for sale on the internet.

Committee Member and Ward Member Councillor Page reported that sale of the land was no longer being advertised on the internet.  Councillor Page moved that the Portfolio Holder be recommended to make the Article 4 Direction.

It was reported that the final paragraph of the recommendation on page 112 was amended to read:- ‘For (i) to (iv) above, this would be a direction with immediate effect and for (v) the earliest possible effect (as explained further in section 7 of the report).’

Councillor Owen seconded the motion for making an Article 4 Direction.  The Legal Representative reported that if sold, each parcel of land would be registered with the Land Registry.  Councillor Owen asked if it was possible through the local search facility for potential purchasers to be informed of their liabilities should there be any encroachment by travellers and that they would be personally responsible for clearing up.  The Legal Representative advised that the Local Land Charges was a statutory register and the best course of action would be to convey the information through a News Release issued via the Council’s Communications.

RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder for Renewal, Recreation and Housing make an Article 4 Direction on the land at New Years Lane to remove permitted development rights for the following classes of development:-

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

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

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

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

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

For (i) to (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).