The Planning Consultant introduced the application as set out in the report. 

Lee Suter, a Supporter, spoke in support of the application.

Nicola Broad-Bartlett, an Objector, spoke against the application.

The Chairman moved the officer recommendation to grant planning permission as per the recommendation in the report, and this was seconded by Councillor Brawn.

The Chairman invited Members to make comments, and these included:

·         Considered that a certain amount of noise had to be accepted when living next to a school;

·         objected to the proposed amount of plastic and loss of green area as it was unnecessary in a semi-rural area;

·         aware that Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) credits could not be purchased in Faversham, and requested an informative that the BNG spending be utilised within Swale, ideally within ten miles of the site;

·         sought clarification that the pitch closed at 9.30 pm in-line with the existing pitches and not 10 pm, as it was unclear from the report;

·         the Council’s PPS had identified the need for such pitches;

·         concerned about the inconsistency with the proposed opening hours within the report;

·         sympathised with the concerns of local residents;

·         had the Council’s Environmental Health Officers assessed the noise impact of the application?;

·         needed to be clear on the type of acoustic fence proposed;

·         considered 90 car parking spaces to be excessive;

·         the amount of car parking spaces proposed would be needed to accommodate visiting fans;

·         the proposed hours of use should be the same as for the existing pitches;

·         the concerns regarding noise were covered by the conditions in the report; and

·         concerned about the impact of the lighting and considered the operating time should revert back to 9.30 pm.

In response, the Planning Consultant stated that the Council’s Environmental Health Officers had reviewed the applicant’s Noise Impact Assessment (NIA), and agreed with its conclusions, and had suggested controls on the hours of use.  An acoustic barrier would be installed to the south of the site, which officers did not consider would be harmful to the openness of the site, which was within the settlement boundary.  The Planning Consultant clarified that condition (24) Hours of Use, was incorrect and should state ‘….the hours of 07.00 to 22.00 on Mondays to Fridays,’ not 21:30 as stated, and ‘between 08.00 and 18.00 on Saturdays and Sundays’ not 09.00 as stated.  He added that currently the applicants could not use the existing pitch past 9.30 pm on weekdays.

A visiting Member spoke in support of the application and raised points which included:  the application was a strategic development and it was important to support and deliver the Council’s PPS, which had identified a lack of sports pitches within Swale.

Councillor Ben J Martin proposed the following amendment:  That condition (24) be amended to read:  The use of the development hereby permitted shall be limited to between the hours of 07.00 to 21.30 on Mondays to Fridays, between 09.00 and 18.00 on Saturdays, and between 10.00 and 18.00 Sundays and Bank Holidays.  This was seconded by Councillor James Hunt, and on being put to the vote agreed.

There was further discussion about the quality of the proposed acoustic fencing and what exactly would be provided, following which Councillor Monique Bonney proposed the following:  That the application be deferred to allow officers to liaise with the applicants to establish the requisite information on the proposed acoustic fence and acoustic background noises. This was seconded by Councillor Tony Winckless.

Resolved:  That application 25/500115/FULL be deferred to allow officers to liaise with the applicants to establish the requisite information on the proposed acoustic fence and acoustic background noises.