Agenda item

RESOLVED: That application 19/02866/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 – 26 minutes 5 seconds

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

·         Condition 10 was amended as outlined under Item 6.

·         There were 148 dwellings proposed, 17 fewer than application 19/02865/RM due to the exclusion of land for the care home.

·         Royston Town Council had no objections.

·         The Lead Local Flood Authority had objected, but this concerned the drainage which was covered under Condition 7 of the Outline Planning application.

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 Michael Muir

·         Councillor Val Bryant

·         Councillor Tom Tyson

In response to questions the Senior Planning officer advised:

·         Cycleways would be included within the footpaths on the site and the width and surfacing of these would be appropriate.

·         The community open space would not be suitable for cycles, as this is a chalk grass land and intended to increase biodiversity, which would be negatively impacted by cycles.

·         Any inclusion of charging points for electric cycles, and suitable storage facilities, would have to have been agreed within the outline planning application and was not.

Following questions, the Chair advised that she regularly cycled in and around this site and felt that cycle access to the site and within the site would not be an issue.

The Chair confirmed that the steepest part of the site was the proposed community open space, where cycles would not be allowed, so did not feel electric cycle charging points were required.

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:

·         This proposal was for 148 units, with 30% affordable, allowing space for the care home on site.

·         Changes were agreed with Officers to include ground remodelling around the care home and the reorientation of some houses on the site, which saw a reduction of one unit.

·         In all other aspects this layout is the same as the first version.

·         Agreed as part of the Section 106 that a new surfaced footpath and cycleway into Newman Way would be installed.

·         The roads through the site have been agreed so that they follow the gradient of the land, and this considered cycles using the roads as well, which had been agreed with Highways Authority.  

The following Members asked questions:

·         Councillor Michael Muir

In response to questions, the Senior Planning Officer advised that Outline Planning Permission was granted in 2016, prior to the requirement for Electric Vehicle charging points.

Councillor Ruth Brown confirmed that all applications going forward would have this requirement included.

Councillor Tony Hunter proposed and Councillor Morgan Derbyshire seconded and, following a vote, it was:

RESOLVED: That application 19/02866/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.”