Issue - meetings

REPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION MANAGER

Erection of 24 dwellings including creation of vehicular access off Ashwell Street, footpath link to Lucas Lane, associated public open space and landscaping (as amended by plans received 17.08.20).

RESOLVED: That application 20/00126/FP be REFUSED planning permission for the reasons set out in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager.

Audio recording 5 minutes 17 seconds

Erection of 24 dwellings including creation of vehicular access off Ashwell Street, footpath link to Lucas Lane, associated public open space and landscaping (as amended by plans received 17.08.20).

The Senior Planning Officer presented the report in respect of application 20/00126/FP supported by a visual presentation consisting of photographs and plans and provided the Committee with the following updates:

·                Paragraph 4.3.26 under “Recommendation” the first sentence should be deleted as it was included in error;

·                Paragraph 4.3.85 all the pound signs had changed to the letter ‘J’ in error when the report was published;

·                The Growth and Infrastructure Team, Hertfordshire County Council had requested that the indexation was clearly stated for the library service, youth service and secondary school education provision.  This would be PUBSEC 175. 

·                There was an error in paragraph 3.23 and in fact fire hydrants were requested as per the consultation response from Hertfordshire County Council, Growth and Infrastructure Team;

·                A representation had been received from Bygrave Parish Council since the report was published which highlighted concerns about construction traffic. Should Members be minded to grant permission these concerns could be dealt with by a condition requiring a traffic management plan;

·                The Environment Agency had been reconsulted in light of the concerns raised by local residents with regard to surface water flooding. They had provided advice which was received after the Committee report was published. Should Members be minded to grant planning permission this issue this could be dealt with by condition.

Mr Graham Lee, Chair of Ashwell Parish Council, thanked the Chair for the opportunity to address the Committee in objection to application 20/00126/FP.

Mr Lee gave a verbal presentation including:

·                Ashwell Parish Council supported the recommendation of the Planning Officer to refuse planning approval for the development, for the reasons stated in her report;

·                Ashwell Parish Council had submitted objections to the application previously as detailed in the Planning Officer’s report at paragraph 3.24;

·                In addition to the previous objections made, the Parish Council wished to raise the safety of the proposed vehicular access via Ashwell Street and Kingsland Way and the safety of non-motorised users of Ashwell Street;

·                Ashwell Parish Council considered that the concept and location of the application conflicted with a number of local and national planning policies.

Councillor Tom Tyson, Member Advocate, thanked the Chair for the opportunity to address the Committee, including:

·                He was speaking in objection to the application and in support of the Planning Officer’s recommendation to refuse planning permission for the development;

·                On the whole, neighbours’ comments (paragraph 3.25) had been taken in consideration;

·                There was an ongoing issue of drainage and sewerage problems thought to be due to a full sewer which might be compounded by new development;

·                Open spaces and the rural character of Ashwell were being gradually eroded;

·                116 new homes had been built in Ashwell over the last 9 years;

·                This development was unacceptable and would detract from the rural character of Ashwell.

Mr Sav Patel, speaking  ...  view the full minutes text for item 56