Approval of reserved matters (appearance, layout, scale and landscaping) pursuant to the Outline Permission 16/04228/OUT for the erection of 216 no. dwellings (conditions 15 and 17 amended and 25 removed by 18/01826/AMP) (Amended description).

The Technical Specialist Planning Officer introduced the reserved matters application pursuant to the Outline Planning Permission 16/04228/OUT for the erection of 216 no. dwellings (conditions 15 and 17 amended and 25 removed by 18/01826/AMP) (Amended description) considered at the meeting of the Central Planning Committee held on 31 August 2019.

The Technical Specialist Planning Officer drew Members’ attention to the Schedule of Additional Letters which included representations from Councillor Peter Nutting, Shrewsbury Town Council, the Agent/Applicant and the Case Officer. The Technical Specialist Planning Officer advised that if Members were minded to approve the application an additional condition in relation to a management plan for both the future maintenance and management of both the play area and the interpretation board as outlined in the Schedule of Additional Letters and the following additional condition in relation to the new boundary wall be included.

Prior to the construction of any new boundary wall samples and/or details of the bricks to be used shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The development shall be carried out in complete accordance with the approved details.

Reason:  To ensure that the external appearance of the development is satisfactory.

In accordance with the Local Protocol for Councillors and Officers dealing with Regulatory Matters (Part 5, Paragraph 15.1), Councillor Julian Dean addressed the Committee as the 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 his statement, a number of points were raised including the following:

·         The site was an ideal location for new homes in particular affordable homes;

·         It was not clear from the Officer’s report if a 20mph speed limit would be imposed or that the road layout would be designed to ensure that speeds above this were not possible;

·         He considered a 20mph should be imposed and walking and cycling encouraged; and

·         He noted that although there had been extensive consultation during the outline application there had been none in relation to the reserved matters application.

Mr Daniel Wilson, Agent on behalf of the applicant, spoke in favour of the proposal in accordance with Shropshire Council’s Scheme for Public Speaking at Planning Committees.

In the ensuing debate, Members requested clarity in relation to the design of the street layout and whether a 20mph speed limit should be imposed. The Technical Specialist Planning Officer advised it was not a planning matter to impose a speed limit and Shropshire Council Highways were satisfied that the speed of traffic would be controlled by the design of the street layout. It was added by the Principal Planning Officer that 30mph was the appropriate speed limit for this type of development and if speeding concerns were raised this would be an issue for Highways and the Police. Following confirmation from the Agent that plateaus had not been proposed as a traffic calming measure, it was agreed that an informative be added to the decision notice to request that plateaus be installed as a means to calm traffic.

Having considered the submitted plans for the proposal and noted the comments of all the speakers Members unanimously expressed their support for the Officer’s recommendation, subject to additional conditions in relation to the management of both the play area and the interpretation board and the new boundary wall and an informative being added to the decision notice in relation to traffic calming measures.

RESOLVED:

That planning permission be granted as per the Officer’s recommendation subject to:

·      The conditions set out in Appendix 1;

·      An additional condition in relation to a management plan for both the future maintenance and management of both the play area and the interpretation board as outlined in the Schedule of Additional Letters;  

·      An additional Condition in relation to the new boundary wall as outlined in the Schedule of Additional Letters and amended by the Case Officer as follows:

Prior to the construction of any new boundary wall samples and/or details of the bricks to be used shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  The development shall be carried out in complete accordance with the approved details.

Reason:  To ensure that the external appearance of the development is satisfactory; and

·      An informative being added to the decision notice in relation to the Committees request that plateaus be installed to calm traffic.