Planning and Transport — 17 August 2026

Apologies were received and accepted from Cllr M Gemmell Smith, Cllr M McArthur, Cllr S McGregor, Cllr V Parker, Cllr M Stockdale and Cllr Streets.

None.

The Chairman proposed to bring forward agenda item 6.2 26/01529/FUL - Land South Of Sunnyside Edenbridge Kent as there were two residents for this item in attendance. Members agreed unanimously and resolved to bring forwards agenda item 6.2 planning application 26/01529/FUL Details are minuted sequentially (item 6.2).

One member of the public spoke on this application stating that the developer is proposing one parking space per dwelling and many of them are three and four bedroom houses. They stated there were already parking problems in Sunnyside due to the overflow from Enterprise Way and were concerned about the the wildlife in the pond there. Also, many of the residents of the existing housing use the path through Sunnyside to get to the railway station.

The minutes of the Planning Committee held on 20 July 2026 be duly signed by the Committee Chairman as a true and accurate record of the meeting held on 20 July; (pages 2023-146/1-3).

None.

Recommendation: Members supported this application.

Recommendation: Members objected to this application and commented:

• Parking - the provision of one space per property is inadequate. Sunnyside already has parking problems. While the site is close to Edenbridge (Kent) station, both stations have one train per hour in each direction. Bus services are similarly sparce. Residents are overwhelmingly likely to depend on cars for their routine transport.
• Kent Police have stated that they should have been consulted as Designing out Crime Officers to address CPTED and incorporate Secured by Design as appropriate.
• Drainage - KCC have commented that while it appears that runoff would be directed via the accessed road corridor, the submitted information does not include finished level details or analysis to demonstrate this. The drainage strategy does not provide a SuDS approach to surface water management and is not considered to to represent a sustainable drainage system in accordance with the National Standards for Sustainable Drainage Systems.
• Flooding - Due to drainage on the rest of the site, water already backs up on the back of the gardens of the existing houses and is wet all the time. Consideration of this proposal needs to take account of discharge from the proposed ST4-15 Site (Ashcombe Drive) in the Regulation19.
• The Fire Brigades' Emergency Access requirements do not appear to have been met.
• Biodiversity - the applicant's own ecology material confirms the loss of a great crested newt breeding pond, associated terrestrial habitat and woodland, together with an overall on-site biodiversity loss rather than gain.
• No heritage or archaeological statement was submitted with the application despite site being within and area of archaeological potential and archaeology consultation being triggered. Work has been going on around the pond, damage the ground and displacing wildlife. Provision should have been made for the wildlife before starting work around the pond.
• The application should comply with Core Strategy Policy SP3, the Affordable Housing SPD 2011 and the requirements of the NPPF The Planning statement makes no mention of this.
• The application state that buses and trains run regularly in Edenbridge. The trains are usually one per hour and buses have limited time-tables. This will mean that more residents will need cars. The traffic survey cannot be accurate.
• Councillors had received complaints about access to the existing site through the industrial estate. Densely parked vehicles pose safety challenges to road users and pedestrians.
• The increased density will cause overlooking of the new and existing houses.
• There is no report addressing meeting affordable housing numbers

Noted.

Noted.

Noted.

Noted.

Noted.

Noted.

Noted.

Noted.

Noted.

Recommendation: Members were concerned about the condition of the listed building, and the fact that the developers are not protecting it. Also it was noted there are a number of road closures in Edenbridge as the roads are having to be dug up to provides drainage for the houses. Members agreed that an officer would contact an SDC Planning officer regarding concerns about the listed building.

Noted.

Noted.

Noted.

Ratified.

Ratified.

None.

Noted.

Approved: Members approved the appointment of ONH Planning to prepare the Spatial Settlement Plan (SSP+) at a cost of £12,950 plus VAT and £200 expenses, with the additional funding to be met from the appropriate reserve(s)

Approved: Members supported the officer's recommendation to appoint Contractor A at a cost of £1,400, with the works commencing on 26 August 2026

Members were given further information at the meeting that the Friends of Edenbridge Memorial would pay for the fees a free Fall Prevention Awareness Course to be held in the hall so no decision had to be made at the meeting.

None.