Planning Committee

Walmer Town Council’s Planning Committee meets every month through the year to consider all planning applications within the town and also those in surrounding areas which may have an impact on Walmer in areas such as traffic congestion. Applications could be work to trees that are under a Tree Preservation Order or could be building works of all sizes and descriptions from outline planning permission to an estate of new builds or small modifications to a listed property. The Committee also considers matters relating to the planning process at National, County and District level affecting the Town.

All applications have a notice placed near the property by Dover District Council, informing residents and interested parties of the proposed work. Walmer Town Council posts a link to all applications that will be considered at each planning meeting on their website and interested parties for or against any application are welcome to attend and give their views in person or post a comment on DDC’s planning website.

At each Walmer Planning Committee meeting the public is welcomed and invited to speak. Applicants are reminded that good clear plans and clear photographs are a vital tool in assessing applications of all types as visits to properties cannot currently be made. Members of the planning committee aim to visit all sites to familiarize themselves with the location and the adjacent properties that could be affected by the works proposed. Such visits by Councillors will need either the owner, architect or agent present to help inform a comprehensive and fair assessment of the application.

The officer will communicate, in writing, to the Local Planning Authority the Committee’s decision in respect of applications considered and this is then placed on the District Council planning portal for consideration by the District Council Officers and Planning Committee who will make the final decision.


Although the final decision rests with the Planning Authority, Walmer Town Council is a Statutory Consultee and the responses must be taken into account by the Planning Authority when considering an application.


DOVER DISTRICT COUNCIL PLANNING GUIDELINES  - WHAT IS CAPABLE OF BEING A MATERIAL CONSIDERATION

* Road Safety – parking/traffic/adequacy of roads
* Potential disturbance to neighbours/locality
* Impact on character of surroundings – bulk, scale, appearance etc. and relationship to context
* Nature conservation interests – habitats/bats/badgers, slow worms
* Effect on character or appearance of a Conservation Area or setting of a listed building
* Precedent
* Planning history – including appeals
* Change of planning circumstances if a renewal application
* Draft Plans – according to progress and any conflict with Development Plan
* Government PPG’s, Circulars and Ministerial statements
* Statutory planning designations e.g.. AONB, SSSI, Green Belt
* Amenity and privacy of dwellings/gardens
* Noise contamination and other forms of pollution
* Availability of parking
* Archaeology
* Economic considerations e.g. jobs/community benefits
* Tourism considerations
* Sustainability
* Countryside – landscape/solitude
* Retail impact
* Timing and prematurity
* Flooding – river/coastal
* Trees and hedgerows
* Loss of open space/playing fields

WHAT IS NOT A MATERIAL CONSIDERATION
* The number of objections received
* Loss of a private view
* Infringements of ancient rights to light
* Breach of a covenant attached to land
* Fear a property may be devalued
* Businessman’s fear of competition
* Unproven fear of what might happen
* Political reasons
* Moral objections e.g. to betting/amusement arcades
* Informal opinion of a Planning Officer
* Matters subject to statutory control e.g. Building Regulations
* Private rights of way/land ownership
* Personalities – popular or unpopular

Planning Sustainable Energy of Planning Applications Leaflet produced by Walmer Town Council

DOVER DISTRICT LOCAL PLAN

Please find below link to Walmer Town Councils submission to Dover District Council regarding the Local Plan.

Walmer Parish Council Local Plan Submission March 2021 

If you have an interest in any planning applications which will be on the agenda which you can access on the Council’s website under Meetings/Agendas and would like to make your views known, then in the first instance please send an email marked for the attention of the Town Clerk to clerk@walmercouncil.co.uk

 

Planning Applications for 10th December 2024

DOV/24/01228

51 Canada Road, Walmer, CT14 7EQ,

Erection of single storey rear and side extensions (existing side extension to be demolished)

DOV/24/01204

Annexe, Crows Nest, 98 Wellington Parade, Walmer

Change of use of annexe to holiday let

DOV/24/01187

19 Cavalry Court, Walmer, CT14 7GF,

Replace side elevation door with French door in enlarged opening. Remove internal ground floor wall. Insert partition to form utility room.

DOV/24/01183

25 Granville Road, Walmer, Deal, CT14 7LQ

Reduce in height by 4 metres and reduce in lateral spread by 2 metres of one Sycamore (T1) the subject of Tree Preservation Order No 1 of 1959.

DOV/24/01159

Shoreline House, 82 Wellington Parade, Walmer, CT14 8AB

Erection of a two storey rear extension with external steps, replacement/extended roof with solar panels, balcony with glass balustrade to ground floor west & east elevations, alterations to windows/doors, and new external wall with timber cladding (existing conservatory and ground floor balcony to be demolished)

DOV/24/01124

Land Fronting St Marys Road , Rear Of Redcote, St Clare Road, Walmer

Variation of condition 2 (approved plans) of planning permission 21/00776 (Erection of 2no. detached dwellings with vehicular access and associated parking (front boundary wall to be demolished and trees to be removed)) to increase roof height and insertion of dormer windows to plot 1

The decision on all planning applications is made by the District or County Council not by the Town Council.

  • In determining the Town Council’s response, the Town Council will notify when possible, parishioners adjacent to the applicant/s address including the applicant (When social distancing restrictions are lifted) via a yellow notification as close to the property making the application.
  • Each Planning Application will be an agenda item on the Town Council Meeting Agenda – nearest date to when the application is notified to the council. 
  • Any member of the public may attend the online Planning Meeting to speak about any planning agenda item.
  • In commenting on planning applications and determining a resolution, the Town Councillors will take into account the views and comments made by parishioners together with any Material Considerations.

A material consideration is a matter that should be taken into account, in deciding a planning application or an appeal against a planning decision.(Below are links to documents to help with planning material considerations)