Agenda item

RESOLVED: That application 19/02865/RM be GRANTED planning permission subject to the reasons and conditions outlined in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager and the following amendment to conditions:

·         Condition 10 to be amended to the following:

“A phasing plan detailing the timing of implementation of the internal road layout shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority before the development is commenced. The phasing plan shall be implemented in accordance with the approved plans.

Reason: The development hereby approved is one of two versions for delivery of housing on the site. There are differences in layout between the two versions in the vicinity of an approved care home towards the northern end of the site, where one or the other version could be implemented. This condition is to ensure that this development is implemented in accordance with the approved plans for this version of development of the site, which forms the basis for the approval.”

Audio recording – 3 minutes 56 seconds

The Senior Planning Officer advised of updates to the report including:

·         Consider that plans for the internal road layout, but not the landscaping or footpaths, should be provided and Condition 10 should be amended to remove reference to landscaping or footpaths.

·         This was due to their being two different plans, one with a care home and one without.

·         Currently the Lead Local Flood Authority had objected as they required more detailed plans of the drainage system. There was a pre-commencement condition which covered this and plans were being worked on by the applicant.

The Senior Planning Officer presented the report in respect of application 19/02865/RM supported by a visual presentation consisting of photographs and plans.

The following Members asked questions:

·         Councillor Tony Hunter

In response to questions, the Senior Planning Officer advised that Condition 10 was being updated as the site of the proposed care home meant there was a slight variation in the two schemes (19/02865/RM and 19/02866/RM), other than this they were identical. This proposed Condition 10 would prevent the applicant using a hybrid of the two plans, as the internal road layout plans would be different for the two applications.

The Chair invited Claire Newbury to speak on behalf of the applicant.

Claire Newbury thanked the Chair for the chance to address the Committee and gave a verbal presentation including:

·         Confirmed there were two layouts proposed and this proposal would reflect the original aspiration of the outline planning application, with general housing but no specialist accommodation.

·         At the time of submission, the care home application had not been determined and was only allowed on appeal. Therefore this application was required as a backstop option to preserve the ability to deliver homes on the site.

·         165 houses were proposed under this phase.

·         Landscaping had previously been approved as part of Phase 1, which included agreements over biodiversity gains.

·         100 homes have been built so far and aim to complete development within 3 years.

·         There has been a strong rate of sales so far, with good feedback from new residents.

·         In the outline planning application, it was agreed that buildings would remain below the 18 metre contour lines, to ensure the development does not have a negative impact on wider views.

·         This principle was vital in deciding the layout of this phase and this has guided the main streets and orientation of dwellings.

·         The main street routes followed the contours of the site and meet Highways requirements.

·         Have met and discussed with Officers how best to ensure the 18 metre height was not exceeded and to maximise use of site.

·         Further ground modelling was agreed, alongside some plots having extended gardens, to lessen the impact of the site.

·         This phase exceeds the development management policy requirements and will make a key contribution to Council’s 5 year land supply.

The following Members asked questions:

·         Councillor Tony Hunter

In response to questions, Claire Newbury advised that detailed negotiations with the care home provider were in the final stages and it was hoped the care home would go ahead, conditional on the outcome of these discussions.

The following Members took part in the debate:

·         Councillor Ruth Brown

·         Councillor Tony Hunter

In response to questions the Senior Planning Officer advised:

·         There was affordable, not social, housing included in the plans as part of the Section 106 agreement.

·         The scheme had previously been amended to confront issues raised by Officers relating to the typography of the site and Officers were now confident that there will be no overlooking of properties.

Councillor Ruth Brown, as Chair, proposed and Councillor Tony Hunter seconded and, following a vote, it was:

RESOLVED: That application 19/02865/RM be GRANTED planning permission subject to the reasons and conditions outlined in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager and the following amendment to conditions:

·         Condition 10 to be amended to the following:

“A phasing plan detailing the timing of implementation of the internal road layout shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority before the development is commenced. The phasing plan shall be implemented in accordance with the approved plans.

Reason: The development hereby approved is one of two versions for delivery of housing on the site. There are differences in layout between the two versions in the vicinity of an approved care home towards the northern end of the site, where one or the other version could be implemented. This condition is to ensure that this development is implemented in accordance with the approved plans for this version of development of the site, which forms the basis for the approval.”