Application for approval of reserved matters (layout, scale, appearance, landscaping and access) pursuant to 13/01643/OUT for residential development of three dwellings (Phase 1 : Plots 1-3) with garaging and formation of parking spaces

The Principal Planning Officer introduced the application for approval of reserved matters (layout, scale, appearance, landscaping and access) pursuant to 13/01643/OUT, for residential development of four dwellings (Application 1: Plots 1-4) with garaging and formation of parking spacesand confirmed that the Committee had undertaken a site visit that morning to assess the impact of the proposed development on neighbouring properties and the surrounding area.

Members’ attention was drawn to the information contained within the Schedule of Additional Letters, which summarised the comments received from Highways (which had also been circulated to Members in full) and amendments to the description of the five applications which incorrectly referred to plot numbers as originally submitted rather than as amended and should have referred to ‘applications’ rather than ‘phases’.

The Chairman requested that each speaker cover all of the points they wished to make on each of the five reserved matters applications for this site being agenda items 6 – 10 (Minutes Ref. 52 – 56) within one presentation and allowed additional time of up to five minutes for each speaker. 

Mr Richard Manford on behalf of local residents spoke against the proposal in accordance with Shropshire Council’s Scheme for Public Speaking at Planning Committees.

Councillor Rupert Harvey, on behalf of Whittington Parish Council spoke against the proposal in accordance with Shropshire Council’s Scheme for Public Speaking at Planning Committees.

In accordance with the Local Protocol for Councillors and Officers dealing with Regulatory Matters (Part 5, Paragraph 15.1) Councillor Charmley as local ward councillor, made a statement and then left the table, took no part in the debate and did not vote on this item. During their statement, the following points were raised:

·         He had met with local residents and the developer and was pleased that the scheme had been revised and traffic calming measures were proposed;

·         However his concerns remained and related to three main issues, firstly whether the scale of the proposed development was appropriate for the site, secondly the amount of additional traffic that the development would create on already busy roads, and finally whether the proposed plot sizes were in keeping with the size of the existing dwellings within Park Hall.

Mr Andrew Jones, applicant spoke in support of the proposal in accordance with Shropshire Council’s Scheme for Public Speaking at Planning Committees.

The Principal Planning Officer responded to the points raised by speakers, confirming that the SAMDev figure of 20 dwellings was a guideline and not an upper limit and the conditions recommended by Highways were pre-commencement conditions. 

During the debate the Committee, were sympathetic to the concerns of local residents and the Parish Council, however they felt that the proposals were acceptable, particularly taking into account the additional conditions recommended by Highways in their full written response, not the summary detailed in the Schedule of Additional Letters.

Having considered the submitted plans and listened to the comments made by all of the speakers Members unanimously expressed their support for the Officer’s recommendation. 

RESOLVED:

That planning permission be granted, in accordance with the Officer’s recommendation, subject to:

·         The conditions set out in Appendix 1 of the report; and

·         The additional conditions recommended by Highways, as set out in the Highway Advice Note.