Residential development of 74 Extra Care apartments and associated facilities, 6 bungalows and 58 houses; improved access.

In accordance with his declaration at Minute No. 98, Councillor David Turner left the room during consideration of this item.

The Principal Planner introduced the application and with reference to the drawings and photographs displayed, he drew Members’ attention to the location, proposed access, drainage, elevations and layout.  He also drew Members attention to:

·         Further comments/concerns received from Albrighton Medical Practice;

·         Proposed amendments to Condition No. 16 regarding land contamination; and

·         An additional condition and additional information as set out in the Schedule of Additional Letters circulated prior to the meeting.

Members had undertaken a site visit the previous day and had viewed the site and had assessed the impact of a proposal on the surrounding area. 

Mr P Collins, representing local residents, spoke against the proposal in accordance with the Council’s Scheme for Public Speaking at Planning Committees.

Councillor P Woodman, representing Albrighton Parish Council, spoke against the proposal in accordance with the 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) Councillor Malcolm Pate, as local Ward Councillors, made a statement and then left the table, took no part in the debate and did not vote on this item.  During his statement, the following points were raised:

·         He did not agree with the recommendation;

·         There was already considerable traffic congestion in the area caused by the school and surgery;

·         Highways had originally objected to the scheme and he thought this was the case going forward;

·         The access via Shaw Lane would not be suitable;

·         A need for more care home places for Albrighton residents had not been identified;

·         A meeting with the doctors’ surgery had highlighted concerns regarding the lack of resources and capacity to cope with additional people;

·         He was concerned that the recommendation to permit was driven by the fear of going to appeal, but contended that this would be worth the fight;

·         He had been given to understand that the development would go no further until access from the opposite side of the development had been explored with Thompson’s; and

·         He urged the Committee to take note of the concerns of Albrighton residents and refuse the application.

Mr S Faizey, the agent, spoke for the proposal in accordance with the Council’s Scheme for Public Speaking at Planning Committees and responded to questions from Members regarding the proposed access arrangements.

In the ensuing debate, Members considered the submitted proposals and noted the comments of all speakers, and it was:

RESOLVED:

That the application be deferred to a future meeting in order to obtain further information on the following:

·         Further information from the medical centre and the applicants regarding the impact of the development on their workload and the facilities at the medical centre;

·         Further information on the demand for station parking and the accessibility to the railway station;

·         The ability of the drainage/sewage system to cope with further development and the extent and nature of improvement works required;

·         Explore a north/south connection to allow for vehicular access from Kingswood Road; and

·         Further information regarding the conditions of residency/letting at the extra care home.

(At this juncture, the meeting adjourned at 03:12 pm and reconvened at 03:18 pm.)