The Planning Committee met on 17 September 2025, to discuss a number of planning applications, including a decision to defer and delegate an application relating to land west of Tothill Street in Minster, and to raise no objection to an appeal relating to 2-3 The Broadway in Ramsgate.

Tothill Street Development

The committee considered a request to vary condition 30 of planning permission OL/TH/18/1488, which relates to land west of Tothill Street in Minster. The original condition required that an emergency access onto Greenhill Gardens be completed before the first occupation of the development. The developer, Barrett David Wilson Homes, requested that this condition be changed to require the emergency access to be completed prior to the occupation of the 50th dwelling.

The agent for the applicant, Miss Amy Tamplin, stated that the reason for the variation was due to unforeseen delays with both Kent County Council (KCC) Highway agreements and the delivery of utilities.

The Minster Parish Council strongly objected to the application, stating that the provision of the emergency access was a fundamental policy requirement underpinning the sustainability credentials for the West Tothill Site. They stated:

MPC is, in fact, aware that the emergency access has been installed, save for the last few metres onto Greenhill Gardens although it is unclear whether this has been inspected by Kent Highways with a view to potential adoption.

KCC Highways initially raised no objection to the variation of the condition, but after reviewing comments from residents and the parish council, they stated that it would not be acceptable to delay the implementation of the emergency access beyond the 50th occupation without robust justification.

Councillor Abi Smith called the application to the committee to allow members to consider the impact of delaying the delivery of the emergency access.

The committee voted to defer and delegate the application for approval subject to the transfer of the stated Strategic Access Management and Monitoring Plan (SAMM) financial contribution¹ to the Planning Department, and safeguarding conditions.

Alpha Road, Birchington

The committee considered an application for the erection of a two-storey, four-bedroom detached dwelling with associated parking and garden following the demolition of an existing garage on land adjacent to 130 Alpha Road in Birchington.

Councillor Linda Wright called the application to the committee to allow members to consider whether the proposal amounts to overdevelopment, and the impact upon the street scene.

KCC Highways stated that the development proposal did not meet the criteria to warrant involvement from the Highway Authority.

KCC Ecology reviewed the submitted ecological information and were satisfied that habitats are of overall low suitability for protected species, and that a Preliminary Roost Assessment (PRA) determined that onsite buildings are of negligible potential for supporting roosting bats and no further survey is necessary.

KCC Ecology also advised that a Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) assessment demonstrated an overall net loss of -0.45 habitat units (-39.13%) and a net loss of <0.01 hedgerow units (-29.48%). They stated that due to the difficulty of securing gains within garden habitats, it is proposed that this deficit will be offset through obtaining offsite units.

The committee voted to approve the application subject to conditions.

Harbour Lights Restaurant, Ramsgate

The committee considered two applications relating to the Harbour Lights Restaurant, East Pier, Ramsgate:

• A full application for the installation of a safety ladder and safety wires to the roof of Ramsgate Port Control Building (F/TH/25/0744).
• An application for Listed Building Consent for the same works (L/TH/25/0745).

The applications were brought before members because the application was made on land owned by Thanet District Council.

The Thanet District Council Conservation Officer raised no objection, stating that the purpose, materiality and scale of the proposed works is unlikely to affect the appearance, setting or significance of the listed structure they are being affixed to.

The committee voted to approve both applications subject to conditions.

Tudor House, Margate

The committee considered an application for the installation of one Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) UK Power Networks (UKPN) electrical cabinet to the side (south-eastern) boundary of Tudor House, King Street, Margate.

The application was brought before members because the land is owned by Thanet District Council.

Historic England offered no advice, and suggested the council seek the views of their specialists Conservation advisors.

The Thanet District Council Conservation Officer raised no heritage concerns.

The committee voted to approve the application subject to conditions.

Grosvenor Place, Margate

The committee considered an application for a change of use from office use (Use Class E²) to short-term residential support centre (Sui Generis³) at 38-40 Grosvenor Place, Margate. The proposal included providing eight bedrooms, a shared kitchen, bathroom and laundry facilities, a management office, replacement windows, doors and external alterations, with supporting landscaping and infrastructure.

The application was brought before members as the application site is owned by Thanet District Council, who are also the applicant.

Kent Police reviewed the application and strongly requested a crime prevention condition be included to address points relating to Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)⁴.

TDC Environmental Health initially objected to the proposal due to a smoking shelter being proposed adjacent to the boundary of 42 Grosvenor Place, Margate, but following amended plans indicating no external smoking shelter is now proposed, they confirmed they had no objection to the proposal on noise grounds.

KCC Ecology initially advised that insufficient ecological information had been provided to determine the application, but following the submission of site photographs, they advised that sufficient information had been provided for determination.

Natural England stated that further information was required regarding recreational disturbance impacts to coastal Special Protection Area(s) (SPAs) and Ramsar Site(s)⁵.

Southern Water stated that insufficient information had been provided, and that construction of the development shall not commence until details and diagrams of the proposed means of foul/surface water drainage disposal have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority in consultation with Southern Water.

The committee voted to defer and delegate the application for approval subject to the transfer of the stated SAMM financial contribution to the Planning Department, and safeguarding conditions.

Seabird, Ramsgate

The committee considered planning application F/TH/24/1326 relating to Seabird, 2-3 The Broadway, Ramsgate. The application concerned a variation of condition 4 of planning permission F/TH/16/0213 for the change of use from retail (A1) to retail and cafe (A1 & A3), installation of a new shopfront, insertion of a door at the rear, and use of the rear yard as a seating area to allow changes to opening hours.

The decision was made at the planning committee meeting on 19 February 2025, to defer the application to a future planning committee meeting, outlining potential cogent reasons for refusal of the application.

In the interim period between the previous committee meeting and the report being brought back to members, the application has been appealed for non-determination.

The purpose of the report brought back to members was to determine the position of members on the appeal statement.

The committee voted to raise no objection to the appeal subject to the imposition of safeguarding conditions by the Planning Inspectorate.