Issue - meetings
25/02064/OP Land Adjacent To 10, Hambridge Way, Pirton, Hertfordshire
Meeting: 03/09/2026 - Planning Control Committee (Item 52)
52 25/02064/OP Land Adjacent To 10, Hambridge Way, Pirton, Hertfordshire 
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REPORT OF THE
DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION MANAGER
Erection of up to 50 dwellings including affordable housing,
together with amenity space, landscaping and all associated
infrastructure and works (all matters reserved except means of
access) (amended and additional plans received 10.04.2026).
Additional documents:
Decision:
RESOLVED: That application 25/02064/OP be GRANTED planning permission subject to:
A) The completion of a satisfactory legal agreement and the applicant agreeing to extend the statutory period in order to complete the agreement.
B) Providing delegated powers to the Development and Conservation Manager to (i) resolve outstanding matters including financial contributions and (ii) update conditions and informatives with minor amendments as required.
C) That authority be delegated to the Development and Conservation Manager to finalise the planning obligations relating to sports facilities and playing-pitch provision, including determining whether any contribution or provision should be secured for Pirton Sports and Social Club, following consultation with Sport England and Pirton Sports and Social Club.
D) That authority be delegated to the Development and Conservation Manager to require the applicant to submit a Ball Trajectory Risk Assessment or similar, undertaken by a suitably qualified person, and, following consultation with Sport England, to address this requirement before outline planning permission is issued.
E) The conditions as set out in the report with an amendment to Condition 30 and an additional condition 33 as follows:
‘Condition 33
No development shall commence until a Market Housing Mix Schedule has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The schedule shall set out the number, type, and size of market dwellings proposed across the site and how this would complement the affordable housing mix agreed by planning obligation. The schedule shall take into account the requirements of Policy HS3 of the Local Plan and the most recent Strategic Housing Market Assessment. Any reserved matters application pursuant to this outline planning permission shall be in accordance with the approved schedule.
Reason: To inform the layout, scale and density of the development to be submitted at reserved matters stage and to secure an appropriate range of house types and sizes in accordable with Policies SP8 and HS3 of the North Hertfordshire Local Plan 2011-2031.
Condition 30
Prior to the commencement of development, an updated Noise Impact Assessment shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The assessment shall review the findings and recommendations of the Cass Allen Ltd report (Ref: RP01-25395-R0) dated 12 August 2025, taking account of the development layout and all relevant noise sources, and shall identify any necessary mitigation measures to protect the residential amenity of future occupants. No dwelling shall be occupied until the scheme providing protection for those dwellings has been implemented in accordance with the approved details. The approved scheme shall be retained in accordance with those details thereafter.
Reason: To ensure that the potential noise impacts of the development are properly assessed and appropriately mitigated, and to protect the residential amenity of future occupants, in accordance with Policy D3 of the North Hertfordshire Local Plan 2011–2031.’
Minutes:
Audio recording – 07 minutes 34 seconds
The Senior Planning Officer provided a verbal update on matters relating to Application 25/02064/OP and advised that:
· Pirton Sports and Social Club had submitted several objections not directly covered within the officer report, and these were available online.
· Key issues raised included deficiencies in the noise survey, drainage report and mitigation, proposed planning conditions, and the setting back of the site from the recreation ground to protect sporting activities.
· The objection also requested merging the Cotman End access with the recreation ground access and safeguarding land within the application site for future expansion of the recreation ground.
· The original objection included a request for £365,000 towards pavilion and recreational improvements.
· The recreation ground and its access were outside the red-line boundary, and there was no requirement for the applicant to merge access roads.
· Highways had raised no objection to the proposed access arrangements.
· The site exceeded Fields in Trust requirements for open space for a development of this scale.
· The Lead Local Flood Authority and Environmental Health had raised no objections.
· The applicant had agreed planning obligations towards sports facilities and pitches within the district, but not directly to Pirton Sports and Social Club.
· Sports England and the England and Wales Cricket Board enforce an 80m strike zone from the cricket square, and the illustrative layout showed development within that zone.
· Approval was recommended subject to additional conditions delegating authority to the Development and Conservation Manager.
The Senior Planning Officer then presented the report in respect of application 25/02064/OP accompanied by a visual presentation consisting of plans and photographs.
The following Members asked questions:
· Councillor Val Bryant
· Councillor Tom Tyson
· Councillor Louise Peace
In response to questions, the Senior Planning Officer advised that:
· Green arrows shown on the framework plan were indicative access principles for pedestrian and cycle movement, to be detailed at Reserved Matters stage.
· Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) contributions would be secured by condition and delivered at district or county level.
· The hedgerow habitat unit increase of 23% would be safeguarded through the biodiversity net gain plan required under Condition 25.
· The BNG plan would be submitted to and approved by the Planning Authority before commencement.
· Boundary hedgerows were expected to be retained and reinforced as part of achieving net gain.
· Affordable housing mix would be secured through the Section 106 agreement.
· Market housing mix would be submitted prior to commencement and assessed against policy and the Strategic Housing Market Assessment.
· Detailed housing mix was not required at outline stage.
· Construction traffic management would be determined by the Highway Authority.
The Chair invited the first Public Objector, Parish Councillor Diane Burleigh to speak against the application. Parish Councillor Burleigh thanked the Chair for the opportunity and provided the Committee with a verbal presentation, and highlighted the following:
· Pirton valued its natural environment, and a 19% biodiversity net loss on a single greenfield site was unacceptable.
· The central hedgerow was proposed for removal despite supporting bat species, including the rare Bechstein bat. ... view the full minutes text for item 52