Erection of 48 Dwellings Across 3 Phases with Associated Access Roads, Parking and Landscaping, including Provision of Land for Train Station Car Park.

The Senior Planning Officer introduced the application for the erection of 48 Dwellings Across 3 Phases with Associated Access Roads, Parking and Landscaping, including Provision of Land for Train Station Car Park and 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 included updates from the Case Officer.

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

Robert Jones on behalf of the Baschurch Station Campaign Group spoke in support of the proposal in accordance with Shropshire Council’s Scheme for Public Speaking at Planning Committees.

Councillor Andy Woodthorpe, on behalf of Baschurch Parish Council spoke in support of 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 Nick Bardsley, as local ward councillor, made a statement in support of the application.

Nigel Thorns, Agent on behalf of the applicant spoke in support of the proposal in accordance with Shropshire Council’s Scheme for Public Speaking at Planning Committees.

During the ensuing debate members considered the proposal to be infill development and that the benefits of the scheme which included the overprovision of affordable housing, over provision of open space and the provision of land for a station car park outweighed the conflict to the adopted development plan.

The Solicitor advised that as members were minded to approve the application any permission granted would be subject to the signing of a Section 106 agreement in order to secure provision of affordable housing, on site open space provision, the provision of land for a station car park and a financial contribution towards the Colemere RAMSAR site and appropriate planning conditions. The Senior Planning Officer outlined the suggested planning conditions which included standard commencement and plans conditions and those to cover:  

•  Japanese Knotweed mitigation

•  Ecology mitigation

•  Vegetation clearance

•  Proposed materials

•  Habitat Management Plan

•  Archaeology measures

•  Tree protection measures

•  Estate roads and lighting

•  Estate roads phasing plan

•  Surfacing, layout, drainage and lighting of the proposed railway station car park

•  Electric vehicle charging points

Members felt that an additional condition should be included to ensure the station car park was appropriately maintained and not used for long term storage of site equipment

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

RESOLVED:

That planning permission be granted contrary to the officer recommendation for the following reason:

Members considered the proposal to be infill development and that the benefits of the scheme which included the over provision of affordable housing,

over provision of open space and the provision of land for a station car park outweighed the conflict to the adopted development plan.

Subject to:

•  The Planning and Development Services Manager being granted delegated powers to attach conditions to include standard commencement and plans conditions and conditions outlined at the meeting; and 

•  The signing of a Section 106 agreement in order to secure provision of affordable housing, on site open space provision, the provision of land for a station car park and a financial contribution towards the Colemere RAMSAR site.