Outline permission (access for approval) for residential development (up to 86 dwellings) to include vehicular access (off Tarporley Road).

The Principal Planning Officer introduced the outline application for a residential development (up to 86 dwellings) including vehicular access (off Tarporley Road).  He drew Members’ attention to the schedule of additional letters, which included a briefing note from the agent.  It was noted that the application had been deferred at the meeting held on 11^th March to allow Members to undertake a site visit to assess the impact of the proposal on the surrounding area.  A site visit had taken place that morning and the site had been viewed from various points.

Ms E. Jones, the agent for the application spoke in support of the proposal in accordance with Shropshire Council’s Scheme for Public Speaking at Planning Committees, during which the following points were raised:

                     i.        The site was within a sustainable location, within walking distance of the town centre and local amenities and adjacent to the settlement boundary;

                    ii.        Views of the site were largely filtered and obscured by vegetation and the natural topography of the wider surrounding landscape;

                   iii.        The development would alter the character of the landscape, but it would not have a significant adverse impact on the environment;

                   iv.        The pattern of the development was not different to other existing developments within the area and greater weight than was reasonable had been attributed to this by officers; 

                    v.        The European Protected Species 3 test matrix had been misapplied in this case as the impact of the loss of the intermediate and distant Great Crested Newt habitat that would occur was classed as low and could be addressed through mitigation; and

                   vi.        The application was in accordance with the relevant policies and should be approved in accordance with the NPPF presumption in favour of sustainable development.

By virtue of the amendment made to Shropshire Council’s Constitution, as agreed at the meeting of Council held on 27 February 2014, Councillor P. Mullock, as the local Ward Councillor, stated that she had no further comments to make since the last meeting; Councillor P. Mullock took no part in the debate and did not vote.

Having considered the submitted plans for the proposal, the majority of Members commented that the site visit had been worthwhile and expressed their support for the officer’s recommendation to refuse the application, stating that they considered that the site was inappropriate in terms of its narrow width and its location in relation to the built up edge of town.

RESOLVED:

That Planning Permission be refused in accordance with the officers recommendation.

(Councillor Paul Wynn rejoined the meeting at this point.)