Outline application for proposed housing development (all matters reserved).

The Area Planning and Building Control Manager introduced the application and with reference to the drawings displayed, he drew Members’ attention to the location and indicative layout.

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

Mrs Z Robins, representing Nesscliffe Hills & District Bridleway Association and Equestrians, spoke against the proposal in accordance with the Council’s Scheme for Public Speaking at Planning Committees, during which the following points were raised:

·         Development would generate a considerable amount of traffic;

·         Would be outside the village boundary in open countryside;

·         Would exit onto a single track lane used by horse riders, cyclists and walkers and there was no way for them to get out of the way of passing traffic other than by using private driveways;

·         There were no passing places and no option for vehicles to reverse;

·         Highways had acknowledged that Wilcott Lane was narrow;

·         Delivery drivers would not travel all the way down the Nesscliffe Bypass to the south roundabout and then come back up the old A5;

·         Would be contrary to CS4 and Parish Plan and would not be sustainable; and

·         Wilcott Lane was the only link that horse riders and cyclists could use to access off road bridleways and the country park.

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Mr T Mennell, the agent, spoke for the proposal in accordance with the Council’s Scheme for Public Speaking at Planning Committees, during which the following points were raised:

·         No vehicles were seen during the site visit;

·         Officers had addressed objections in the report;

·         Scale of the application had been reduced as per a request from the Parish Council and in accordance with the Village Plan;

·         Would be sustainable and in accordance with SAMDev and the NPPF; and

·         Would provide a mix of housing and affordable properties.

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

·         The proposal would be contrary to the Parish Council’s aspirations as set out in their Parish Plan and SAMDev;

·         The Parish had put forward an aspiration of 45 dwellings and to date 230 houses had been proposed.

In response to comments, the Area Planning and Building Control Manager confirmed that the site would be situated on the edge of the existing settlement; the inclusion of bungalows could be conditioned; and reiterated that the number of dwellings referred to by speakers had not all been for dwellings within Nesscliffe but across the cluster and there had been a number of planning applications refused.

In the ensuing debate, Members considered the submitted plans and noted the comments of all speakers.  Some Members acknowledged the close vicinity of the centre of the village; welcomed the inclusion of bungalows; noted this was an outline application.   Some Members expressed concerns regarding the high number of dwellings that had been proposed and agreed in this area and the narrow and twisted nature of the access road.

RESOLVED:

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

·         A Section 106 Agreement to secure affordable housing in accordance with the prevailing rate current at the time of submission of Reserved Matters;

·         The Reserved Matters submission to include bungalows on the plots as shown on the illustrative site plan; and

·         The conditions set out in Appendix 1 to the report.