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www.northcrayresidents.org.uk

TO: Head of Development Control DATE: 21 February 2016

FROM: Jean Gammons, Secretary

16/00089/FUL Orchard View Farm 63 Parsonage Lane : erection of three dwellings

This is to register our very strong OBJECTION to this renewed application to redevelop this
site for housing, a site which forms part of the Cray Valley Green Belt and Heritage Land.

1. Our arguments in support of our previous objections remain (please see letters dated 28
January 2015 (15/00015/FUL); and 7 July 2015 (15/01453/FUL).

2. To very briefly summarise the arguments set out in our previous letters:-

- it would be an inappropriate development, one that would significantly alter the character of
this area

- it falls outside the exception set out in para 89 of the NPPF since the proposed residential
dwellings would not be in the same use as the buildings they would replace

- it falls outside Policy ENV2 which states a strong presumption against the construction of
new buildings in the Green Belt other than the replacement of existing dwellings.

- the government was clear in its press release of October 2014 that protecting the Green Belt
from urban sprawl must be paramount.

- allowing the development would set a serious precedent for other owners of large areas of
Green Belt land nearby.

3. Our reasons for objecting to the current proposal are taken in turn below.

a) Planning Inspector's view:-

i The revised application before you now does not, as is claimed, resolve the reasons given
by the Planning Inspector for dismissing the applicant's appeal against refusal of planning
permission for three houses in 2015 (Appeal ref APP/D5120/W/15/3033665). The height of
the dwellings now proposed is lower; but the key point is the one she makes in her para 14, ie
that the development “would result in a more suburban character and appearance of the site,
which would not...relate to the existing semi-rural character and appearance of the
surrounding area”. She points out that this would conflict with the National Planning Policy
Framework as well as Policies CS01, CS06 and CS17 of the Core Strategy and Policies
ENV4. ENV22 and ENV 39 of the UDP. See also (e) below.