1. Land amounting to no more than approximately 4.6 hectares north of Heath Road, as identified on the Policies Map, is allocated for the development of approximately 85 dwellings at an average density of circa 30 dph. The following conditions are considered appropriate to be met before development is permitted.

Design and Layout

2. Development proposals will be of a high standard of design incorporating the use of contextually derived design and vernacular materials; incorporating a variety of typologies, materials, landscaping and street scenes.

3. Both the northern and eastern boundaries shall incorporate lower densities and integrated landscaping to reflect their edge of village setting.

4. A landscape/coalescence buffer including tree planting, of no less than 1.42 hectares and at no part less than 20m in depth shall be provided to the site’s eastern and northern boundaries and be designed to prevent coalescence between the eastern edge of Coxheath and the western edge of Loose.

5. Within these landscaped and open space buffers, the net developable area should not materially exceed circa 2.83 hectares.

6. The development layout shall respect the amenities and setting of adjacent residential properties.

7. Streets shall incorporate tree planting as part of an overall landscape management plan, with the visual impact of car parking mitigated.

Landscape/Ecology

8. A phase 1 habitat survey will be required, which may as a result require on and/or-off site mitigation for the existing habitat of local fauna/ flora.

9. Development will be subject to a site-wide strategy to incorporate an appropriate level of biodiversity net gain in accordance with national and local policy.

10. Existing tree/hedgerow margins should be retained/enhanced in order to provide the opportunity for biodiversity habitat creation enhancement. Public access to such areas would normally be limited.

11. The development proposals shall include provision for the protection and buffering as appropriate of the adjacent area of Ancient Woodland.

12. Balancing ponds and swales shall not be counted towards on-site semi/natural open space needs unless it can be demonstrated that they provide appropriate and undisturbed ecological habitat.

13. Provision shall include no less than 1.3 hectares of semi/natural open space the principal focus of which shall be to contribute to site buffers and biodiversity net gain, but which may include access where conflict with habitat does not arise. The location and layout of such areas shall be designed to avoid conflict with more active accessible residential amenity spaces such as children’s play.

14. The development proposals shall be designed to take into account the results of a landscape and visual impact assessment undertaken in accordance with the principles of guidance in place at the time of the submission of an application.

Access, Highways and Transportation

15. Vehicular access shall be via Heath Road, with no vehicular connections to Forstal Lane.

16. The new junction to Heath Road shall incorporate appropriate sight lines and be designed to appropriate capacity and safety standards.

17. The site shall enable connectivity to existing/planned Public Rights of Way and cycle routes to the east and west of the site

18. The site shall provide safe pedestrian and cycle routes through the site which are by design well supervised.

19. Contributions to off-site highways mitigation, namely Linton Crossroads, or an alternative agreed by the Local Planning Authority and Highway Authority.

Open Space

20. The development shall provide accessible open amenity space in accordance policies LPRSP13 and LPRINF1, with in addition to any semi/natural buffer, a minimum of 0.55 hectares of additional accessible amenity green space incorporating elements such children’s play, micro allotments and other functions that contribute positively to the wellbeing of the future community. Such amenity spaces should form an integrated element of the overall masterplan. The quality and function of accessible open space shall not be prejudiced by the incorporation of any active SuDS elements, which if necessary should be independently provided.

Utilities Infrastructure

21. The proposal to demonstrate that adequate connections to the nearest points of the network are achievable and that adequate capacity exists/can be created for all utilities.

22. Where there may be limited capacity in the utility network, the occupation of the development will be phased to align with the delivery of infrastructure.

For more information, please visit Maidstone’s Local Plan Maidstone Borough Council Local Plan 2021-2038