Issue - meetings

REPORT  OF  THE  DEVELOPMENT  AND  CONSERVATION  MANAGER

Erection of six dwellings with associated access, landscaping and parking (as amended by plans received 06/02/24 and 15/02/24). 

RESOLVED: That application 22/01687/FP be GRANTED planning permission subject to the reasons and conditions set out in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager.

Audio Recording: 4 hours 44 minutes and 28 seconds

N.B. Councillor Louise Peace declared an interest and moved to the public gallery.

The Senior Planning Officer presented the report in respect of application 22/01687/FP supported by a visual presentation consisting of photographs and plans.

The Following Members asked points of clarification:

·       Councillor Ruth Brown

·       Councillor Ian Mantle

·       Councillor Jon Clayden

In response to questions, the Senior Planning Officer stated that:

·       The size of the parking spaces in the car ports are of sufficient size.

·       Heat pumps would be installed in the properties, but no solar panels.

·       The local bus service was a regular service.

·       Condition 13 recommended that the applicant would need to provide a land and ecology maintenance plan to ensure the biodiversity net gain was met. The submission will be consulted with the ecologist or Hertfordshire County Council Ecologist for net gain provided.

·       The mix of properties was considered satisfactory.

The Chair invited Parish Councillor Yvonne Hart to speak against the application. Parish Councillor Hart thanked the Chair for the opportunity and provided the Committee with a verbal presentation, including that:

·       The development was outside the village boundary and did not follow the aesthetics. It would also set a precedence for future development.

·       Large 3 and 4 bedroomed houses were not needed in the area.

·       There was a large reliance on cars, there is no shop or school.

·       Buses were not frequent and did not run on a Sunday.

·       There was increasing number of cars on the roads, together with parked cars with a limited visibility.

·       A growing number of children walk and bike ride to school and were currently safe around their homes.

·       The local sewage system had been having problems with being exasperated.

·       Concerns over the local Grade 1 listed church which could be damaged during construction.

·       Local wildlife was thriving and diverse, with bats and owls both breeding.

·       Holwell would not benefit from this site, as there would be no financial gain as the development is too small for S106 money and will just cause disruption.

There were no points of clarification from Members.

The Chair thanked Parish Cllr Hart for her presentation and invited Councillor Louise Peace to speak against the application. Councillor Peace thanked the Chair for the opportunity and provided the Committee with a verbal presentation, including that:

·       There was objection to the development of the location, habitat loss, road safety and parking issues.

·       The ecological survey was an abundance of wildlife.  It was noted that the biodiversity Net gain calculations had not yet been provided.

·       There were very few facilities in the village, no shop, pub or junior school. There was a drive to either Pirton or Hitchin for a secondary school.

·       There were already children standing on the bus to school, with additional pressure on the service and no S106 money.

·       There was a high impact on limited parking provisions, with areas on the roads full of parked cars.

·       90-degree bends in some places had the local residents considering  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11