Issue - meetings

REPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION MANAGER

Residential development comprising of 2 x 2 bedroom bungalows, 6 x 2 bedroom houses and 6 x 3 bedroom houses with associated landscaping, parking and vehicular access following demolition of existing commercial buildings.

RESOLVED: that application 18/01814/FP be REFUSED planning permission for the

reasons set out in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager.

Audio recording – Session 3 - 0.00 secs

The Principal Planning Officer advised that the following amendment to the report

was required:

•        Paragraph 4.3.59 of the report in the second last line of the paragraph. The sentence should read:

‘the harmful effects of the development by far outweigh the limited benefit of

delivering new homes etc (removing the words ‘are far outweighed by’)

The Principal Planning Officer presented the report in respect of application

18/01814/FP supported by a visual presentation consisting of photographs and

plans.

Councillor David Barnard, Member Advocate, thanked the Chairman for the

opportunity to address the Committee in support of application 18/01814/FP   as

follows:

•        The Parish Council and village community were in support of this application;

•        The site was not green belt;

•        The scheme offered small properties, which responded to the need for smaller, more affordable homes;

•        The Paddocks development was granted planning permission last year by NHDC and was located towards the right of this site.

•        There was an acceptable entrance to the site;

•        There were acceptable footpaths into the village;

•        Luton Airport estimated that there would be 32 million passengers per year over the next few years. However, there were many reasons as to why this may not happen;

•        It was a planning gain.

Mr Ed Norris, DLP Planning and Mr Tom Brindley, Kings Walden Parish Council,

thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Committee in support of

application18/01814/FP.

Mr Norris informed Members that:

•        This was a previously developed brownfield site;

•        The scheme was revised following a refusal in 2018;

•        The applicant had sought to address the concerns previously made;

•        There had been a reduction in the number of dwellings;

•        An enhancement of the design was made;

•        There were changes made to the access to the development, including the implementation of a footpath into the village;

•        The site was currently vacant, in a dilapidated state and detracted from the appearance of the local area;

•        The development proposal provided a lesser footprint than the existing buildings;

•        Noise levels had been assessed and complied with the relevant British Standard for Noise.

Mr Brindley advised that:

•        He was Clerk to Kings Walden Parish Council;

•        The site was crying out for redevelopment;

•        Local residents believed that the site should be developed for housing;

•        The current site was an eyesore and dangerous;

•        The Local Plan allowed for windfall developments;

•        The site was previously developed land.

Councillor Sue Ngwala asked for clarification regarding Green Belt legislation.

Mr Norris referred to National Planning Policy Framework Paragraph 135G and

advised that the Green Belt was not at risk of harm and this was an opportunity to

redevelop the land for much needed housing.

The Principal Planning Officer clarified that he agreed that this was previously

developed land, however the number and height of the proposed dwellings would

cause harm to the Green Belt. There was an allowance  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36