Issue - meetings

REPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION MANAGER

Outline application for up to 325 dwellings including single site access and temporary construction access, with all other matters reserved including landscaping (including open space, and pedestrian links), appearance, layout and scale.

Prior to the item being considered, Councillor Tony Hunter declared a declarable

interest in that he had objected to site RY10 in the Local Plan.  He advised that he

would listen to the presentations and address the Committee as a Member Advocate

following which, he would leave the room and take no part in the debate and vote.

RESOLVED:

(1)     That application 17/00110/1 be GRANTED planning permission subject to the conditions and reasons contained in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager, the following amended and additional conditions and completion of a satisfactory Section 106 agreement.

Condition 5

That Condition 5 be amended to read:

“Construction of the approved development shall not commence until a Construction

Traffic Management Plan has been submitted and approved in writing by the Local

Planning Authority in consultation with the Highway Authority. Thereafter, the

construction of the development shall only be carried out in accordance with the

approved Plan. The Construction Traffic Management Plan shall include construction

vehicle numbers/routing such as prohibition of construction traffic being routed

through Royston town centre and shall be carried out as approved. The temporary

construction access off of Burloes Lane shall be closed to the satisfaction of the

Highway Authority on completion of construction activity on the site.”

Condition 8

That Condition 8 be amended to read:

“Prior to the determination of a reserved matters application, the applicant shall

undertake an ecological assessment of the development site which utilises the

DEFRA Biodiversity Impact Calculator metric or a similar assessment tool. The

development must demonstrate a positive ecological unit score from the pre

development baseline.

Condition 11

That Condition 11  be amended to read:

“Prior to the commencement of the development the applicant shall submit a

programme for the delivery and adoption (or private management of)  footpaths

around the site, with public access secured in perpetuity including non-car access for

cycles and mobility scooters to the established residential development off of Valley

Rise. This programme will be agreed by the Local Planning Authority in conjunction

with Herts County Council Rights of Way. The agreed programme will be

implemented in accordance with any agreed phasing programme and thereafter

maintained in perpetuity.

Reason: To deliver a sustainable scheme of public rights of way for the incumbent

population and the wider community.”

Condition 17

That a new condition 17  be added to read:

“Prior to the commencement of the development hereby approved further details

shall be submitted to and approved by the local planning authority, in consultation

with the highway authority, concerning the provision of an emergency vehicle access

along Burloes Lane following the cessation of its use for construction traffic. The

approved emergency access details shall be implemented prior to first occupation.

Reason: In the interests of highway safety.”

(2)     That, should, for any reason, the Section 106 agreement not be completed before the 30th Sept 2019 and the applicant does not agree to an extension of time to allow for this, officers be requested to refuse planning permission under delegated  ...  view the full decision text for item 34

Audio Recording – Session 1 - 4 mins 56 secs

Prior to the item being considered, Councillor Tony Hunter declared a declarable

interest in that he had objected to site RY10 in the Local Plan.  He advised that he

would listen to the presentations and address the Committee as a Member Advocate

following which, he would leave the room and take no part in the debate and vote.

The Principal Planning Officer (East Team) presented the report in respect of

application 17/00110/1 supported by a visual presentation consisting of photographs

and plans.

The Principal Planning Officer recommended that the following amendments be

made to the conditions:

Condition 5

Add the following at the end of condition 5:

“the temporary construction access off of Burloes Lane shall be closed to the

satisfaction of the Highway Authority on completion of construction activity on the

site.”

Condition 8

The words “neutral or to be deleted from the final sentence so that it read:

“The development must demonstrate a positive ecological unit score from the pre

development baseline.

The following Members asked questions of the Principal Planning Officer:

•        Councillor Ian Mantle;

•        Councillor Michael Weeks;

•        Councillor Mike Rice;

•        Councillor Terry Tyler.

In answer to questions, the Principal Planning Officer clarified the following:

•        Bikes and pedestrians would have to use the main access point to the site.

•        Although appearance was not a consideration at this meeting, It had been included in the Design Statement that any development above 2.5 storeys must be avoided unless it could be adequately justified.

•        The trees that could be seen on the site plan may be retained but this was a matter for the reserved matters stage.

•        In respect of the Section 106 contributions, the youth contribution of £25,478.25 would go towards the Hitchin Young People’s Centre. Although this facility was located in Hitchin, it would provide a service to the Youth of the whole District. 

Councillor Tony Hunter thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the

Committee in objection to application 17/00110/1 as follows:

•        There was only one point of access to the site;

•        Policy stated that any development of more than 300 dwellings had to have two accesses;

•        The traffic along the A505 had no way to turn right into Newmarket Road;

•        County agreed to a safety audit on RY2, which resulted in a roundabout being provided;

•        A great deal of trees and vegetation would be removed to make the sight lines required for the access;

•        Construction traffic would need traffic lights to allow construction vehicles into the site as it was so dangerous;

•        The site needed an emergency vehicle access;

•        Traffic would have to come through Royston Town Centre to access the site.

The following members asked questions of Councillor Tony Hunter:

•        Councillor David Barnard;

•        Councillor Mike Rice;

•        Councillor Sue Ngwala.

In response to questions, Councillor Tony Hunter advised:

•        If there was to be one access to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34