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Maidstone council has granted planning permission for a holiday caravan park in Stilebridge Lane, Marden, despite opposition from the parish council.
But the controversial proposal for 18 pitches at Oakhurst was passed by only one vote.
The scheme had first been presented to the planning committee back in December 2019, when it had been approved. But a neighbour took the issue to the High Court which quashed the council's decision because its planning officers had advised councillors that they could not comment on the design of the "caravans" - which are in fact to present the aspect of holiday lodges. That planning officer's advice was wrong in law and the application was returned to the committee for reconsideration last week.
The council's planning development manager James Bailey did his best to limit the members' considerations to a discussion of the design of the lodges, the landscaping and electric charging points proposed, rather then revisit the principal of development, arguing that it would be illogical to now reject something which the committee had found acceptable before, but several members disagreed.
Visiting councillor David Burton (Con), who is not a member of the planning committee, argued strongly that since its first consideration there was a new material consideration for the committee to examine, namely the Marden Neighbourhood Plan had been adopted in the meantime and was now part of the council's planning policy.
He said the site - down a narrow single track road prone to flooding - was an unsustainable location and the application should be refused.
Cllr Adkinson (Lab) noted that the applicant intended to sell five of the homes to private owners and suggested that the fact that no site office was being proposed suggested that the intended use would not be for holiday lets at all.
Cllr Steve Munford (Ind) said that the two electric charging points proposed were insufficient, the number should be six.
Cllr Lottie Parfitt-Reid described the scheme as "completely incongruous" in the area.
Cllr Eddie Powell (Ind Maidstone) said: "I don't like it all," and Cllr John Perry (Con) described the layout of the 18 caravans as "looking like an army barracks."
However, Cllr Paul Wilby, found the plan acceptable with minor changes: the lodges were proposed to be clad in plastic imitation wood, that should be real wood, and the uniformity of colouring of the caravans should be varied with black, white and natural wood hues.
The voting was six in favour, five against and two abstentions.
In favour:
Cllr Clive English (Lib Dem)
Cllr Tony Harwood Lib Dem)
Cllr Ashleigh Kimmance (Lib Dem)
Cllr Steve Munford (Ind)
Cllr Bryan Vizzard (Lib Dem)
Cllr Paul Wilby (Lib Dem)
Against:
Cllr Anne Brindle (Con)
Cllr John Perry (Con)
Cllr Eddie Powell (Independent Maidstone)
Cllr Lottie Parfitt-Reid (Con)
Cllr Denis Spooner (Con)
Abstentions:
Cllr Robert Eves (Con)
Cllr Keith Adkinson (Lab)
