Issue - meetings

REPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION MANAGER

Erection of 43 dwellings, access from Lower Innings, associated internal roads, parking, landscaping, amenity space and open space.

RESOLVED: That application 23/00563/FP be DEFERRED to a future meeting to allow for the applicant to review the potential for a pedestrian access point to the southeast of the application site, and for the wording and requirements of recommended Condition 8 regarding the Local Cycle/Pedestrian Network Audit to be reviewed.

Audio recording – 22 minutes 4 seconds

The Senior Planning Officer gave a verbal update and advised that:

·       The remaining s106 matters had been agreed by the applicant. These included funding for Oughtonhead Common, waste services and Hitchin swim centre.

·       There was an error at Paragraph 4.3.5, the affordable housing column should include one 4 bed dwelling, the total remained at 17 affordable dwellings.

The Senior Planning Officer presented the report in respect of Application 23/00563/FP supported by a visual presentation consisting of photographs and plans.

The following Members asked points of clarification:

·       Councillor Val Bryant

·       Councillor Ian Mantle

·       Councillor Dave Winstanley

·       Councillor David Levett

·       Councillor Louise Peace

In response to the points of clarification the Senior Planning Officer advised that:

·       There was one main road access to this site at Lower Innings and four pedestrian access routes onto Oughtonhead Lane.

·       The majority of dwellings had garages, and the plans highlighted the storage areas for refuse bins.

·       There had been a separate application approved for the access to this site.

·       The application only had vehicular access from the north via Lower Innings, access from Bowlers End did not form part of the application.

·       A draft travel plan had not been submitted with this application however, this would form a Condition of the approval of the application.

·       No response had been received from the Rights of Way Officers.

·       The biodiversity net gain was highlighted at section 4.3.65 of the report and there would be a net gain of 6.91%.

·       Solar panels for the majority of dwellings had been secured by the approved plans, and not as a condition of the approval of the application.

In response to points of clarification the Development and Conservation Manager advised that:

·       Access to this site had been previously granted and this application was for the housing development and associated traffic of the new dwellings.

·       The absence of a draft travel plan would not be a reason to refuse an application and would normally be added as a condition when granting an application.

The Chair invited Mr Hugh Love to speak against the application. Mr Love thanked the Chair for the opportunity and provided the Committee with a verbal presentation, including that:

·       They had attended and objected to the application for access to this site.

·       There had been 97 comments on this application, only 1 comment was in support of the application.

·       There were concerns regarding pedestrian safety at the access point to this site.

·       There were concerns regarding the traffic flow which should be reviewed prior to the development commencing.

·       There were concern regarding priority rights on Lower Innings and how traffic queues and associated pollution would be managed.

·       Residents of Lower Innings had further concerns as they already struggled to get their cars and refuse bins out for collection.

The Chair thanked Mr Love for his presentation and invited Mr Neil Dodds to speak against the application. Mr Dodds thanked the Chair for the opportunity and provided the Committee with a verbal presentation, including  ...  view the full minutes text for item 174