Agenda item

RESOLVED: That application 20/02412/FP be GRANTED planning permission subject to the reasons and conditions set out in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager.

Audio recording – 5 minutes 50 seconds

The Senior Planning Officer gave a verbal update and advised that there was an update to the Sustainable Transport Heads of Terms. Regarding  which Condition 18, on the advice of the Highways Officer this will not be amended and will be as the original from the meeting in September 2023.

The Senior Planning Officer presented the report in respect of Application 20/02412/FP supported by a visual presentation consisting of photographs and plans.

In response to questions from Councillor David Levett the Senior Planning Officer stated that the footpath remained as part of Condition 18 and that there had been a misunderstanding regarding the bus stop upgrade which had now been resolved.

The Chair invited Mr Anthony Frayne to speak against the application. Mr Frayne thanked the Chair for the opportunity and provided the Committee with a verbal presentation, including that:

·       The infrastructure due process had been ignored as stated in Appendix A.

·       There was a flood risk on the proposed area.

·       The Local Authority and the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) had begun discussion in May 2023 regarding the flood risks. The local residents had requested to be included in these meeting.

·       The LLFA stated that a Local Authority maintenance plan would be required for the maintenance of any trenches, the residents requested to be included in these meetings for transparency and fair planning.

·       No staff were in place to discuss the concerns of the residents and there were doubts that any imposed conditions would be fulfilled.

The Chair thanked Mr Frayne for his presentation and invited Ms Wendy Weller to speak against the application. Ms Weller thanked the Chair for the opportunity and provided the Committee with a verbal presentation, including that:

·       There were concerns regarding the infrastructure which had not been addressed.

·       There were ongoing concerns about flooding, light pollution, the position of the playground and parking on Waterdell Lane.

·       There was a lack of ecological mitigation in the scheme, no solar panel or solar together schemes and there were concerns regarding how the developer would be held accountable.

·       There were ongoing concerns regarding communication between the developer and residents.

The Chair thanked Ms Weller for her presentation and invited Councillor Claire Strong to speak in support of the application. Councillor Strong thanked the Chair for the opportunity and provided the Committee with a verbal presentation, including that:

·       The footpath discussed at the September meeting had now been agreed.

·       One bus stop had now been upgraded and there had been an amendment to 6.1 of the report.

·       The Section 106 (s106), agreement met the Heads of Terms for sustainable transport.

The Chair thanked Councillor Strong for her presentation and invited Mr David Fletcher as the agent of the applicant to speak in support of the application. Mr Fletcher thanked the Chair for the opportunity and provided the Committee with a verbal presentation, including that:

·       The application had been returned to the Committee to secure s106 money for Special Education Needs (SEND). The applicant had never objected to any SEND s106 payments and there had been an error by not including this as part of the s106 payment table.

·       Work was ongoing with Officers regarding the sustainable transport conditions.

The Chair thanked Mr Fletcher for his presentation.

In response to points raised the Senior Planning Officer advised that the points raised by objectors had been considered at the meeting in September and that any conditions would be monitored and enforced in accordance with procedures.

Councillor David Levett proposed and Councillor Daniel Allen seconded, and following a vote, it was:

RESOLVED: That application 20/02412/FP be GRANTED planning permission subject to the reasons and conditions set out in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager.