Issue - meetings
25/03149/RM Land Between Royston Road And, Cambridge Road, Barkway, Hertfordshire
Meeting: 16/04/2026 - Planning Control Committee (Item 161)
161 25/03149/RM LAND BETWEEN ROYSTON ROAD AND, CAMBRIDGE ROAD, BARKWAY, HERTFORDSHIRE 
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REPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION
MANAGER
Approval of reserved matters (access, appearance, landscaping,
layout and scale) for the erection of 140 residential dwellings
with associated landscaping, highways, drainage, public open space
and ancillary infrastructure pursuant to outline planning
permission reference 25/02234/S73 granted 03.12.2025
Additional documents:
Decision:
RESOLVED: That application 25/03149/RM be GRANTED planning permission subject to:
(1) The delegation of powers to the Development and Conservation Manager to (i) resolve any outstanding matters and (ii) update conditions and information with minor amendments as required.
(2) The conditions as set out in the report, with the following amendment to Condition 6 and additional Condition 9:
‘Condition 6
Prior to any above slab level development approved by this application, an Ecological Enhancement Plan (EEP) for the creation of new wildlife features such as the inclusion of integrated bird/bat boxes in buildings/structures and hedgehog highways must be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. Swift bricks should be used where building heights allow.
Reason: To ensure development is ecologically sensitive and secures biodiversity enhancements in accordance with Policy NE4 of the North Hertfordshire Local Plan (2011-2031) and the National Planning Policy Framework.
Condition 9
Prior to their installation, details of any solar photovoltaic (PV) panels to be installed as part of the development hereby approved, including their siting, design and appearance, shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The PV panels shall thereafter be installed in accordance with the approved details.
Reason: To ensure that any solar photovoltaic panels are appropriately designed and integrated into the development, in the interests of high-quality design, in accordance with Policy D1 of the North Hertfordshire Local Plan and Section 12 of the National Planning Policy Framework’
Minutes:
Audio recording – 2 hours 27 minute 23 seconds
The Senior Planning Officer advised that written updates on matters relating to application 25/03149/RM had been published as a supplementary document and highlighted that:
· A summary of consultee comments had been included in the written updates.
· A new condition was proposed to cover the installation of Solar PV panels, and an amendment was proposed to Condition 6.
· There were no remaining pre-commencement conditions to be agreed with the Applicant.
The Senior Planning Officer then presented the report in respect of Application 25/03149/RM accompanied by a visual presentation consisting of plans and photographs.
The following Members asked questions:
· Councillor Martin Prescott
· Councillor Ruth Brown
· Councillor Louise Peace
In response to questions, the Senior Planning Officer advised that:
· The site had existing permission for 140 dwellings, which would consist of three character areas, including a village scene and woodland provision.
· The wooded areas were of lower density and located to the north of the site, with the higher density being further south on the site.
· The north-western SUDs would be more permanently filled with water, with the SUDs in the centre of the site being empty. This had been considered and the unfilled SUDs basins would be suitably landscaped.
· The flood assessment submitted previous was not accurate and therefore changes were required to accommodate associated works to adapt to the new assessment.
· Throughout the process workshops had taken place with the Applicant and Officers to deliver a scheme that was deemed acceptable, whilst adhering to the adopted Masterplan for the site.
· This scheme was now more developed and detailed than the Masterplan.
· This Reserve Matter application would not affect Condition 9 on the Outline Permission application.
· There was no shop currently, as it has been offered to the market, but no offers had been received.
· There were no conditions to require delivery of a shop on site and it was not considered a reason for refusal of the Reserve Matters application.
· The shop could still come forward at a later stage.
In response to questions, the Development and Conservation Manager advised that the mix of housing provision compared to the existing village had been assessed at the Outline Permission stage, where permission was granted. However, Barkway did have a mixed density of housing, with some terraced housing with small garden plots through to large houses with large gardens.
In response to questions, the Local Planning Lawyer advised that the Reserve Matters application was not to consider the density on site.
The Chair invited the Public Objector, Parish Councillor Graham Swann, to speak against the application. Parish Councillor Swann thanked the Chair for the opportunity and provided the Committee with a verbal presentation, and highlighted the following:
· Condition 9 on the Outline Permission had been included to ensure capacity in the sewage network and waste water plant. However, there were concerns regarding this with evidence of spillage and fowl water run off into nearby chalk streams.
· There was no publicly available information from Thames ... view the full minutes text for item 161