Agenda item

Outline application for residential development of up to 70 dwelling houses with all matters reserved.

The Committee considered a report of the Senior Planning Officer regarding an outline application for residential development of up to 70 dwelling houses with all matters reserved on land to the north of Salvin Terrace, Fishburn (for copy see file of Minutes).

L Eden, Senior Planning Officer gave a detailed presentation on the application which included a site location plan, aerial photograph, photographs of the site from various locations and an indicative layout proposal.

The Senior Planning Officer informed the Committee of a formatting error in the details of the proposed Section 106 agreement, which should read as follows:

·         10% Affordable housing

·         Securing on-site open space provision

·         Financial contributions towards play and recreational facilities at a pro-rata rate of £1,000 per residential unit

·         Ecological mitigation of buffer zones on site.

Mr J Irvine, local resident, addressed the Committee to raise points of concern about the application.  The Committee had recently refused an application for development on a brownfield site to the south of Fishburn because of the lack of a bus service and because the site was located away from the amenities of Fishburn.  Planning permission had been approved some 6 years ago for a site near to the application site, although his was never developed.

Mr Irvine expressed concern about the Public Right of Way (PROW).  He owned land to the east of the development and a new entry was to be created although this had not been discussed.  If the original entry to the PROW was maintained then this could cause problems with it being used by motorbike riders, and Mr Irvine suggested an alternative route for the PROW should be considered.

Mr A Lang, agent for the development addressed the Committee.  This was an outline application which had received no objections from Northumbrian Water and the Highway Authority and had received support from the Fishburn Parish Council.

The development site was nearer to amenities than that referred to by Mr Irvine and a full sustainability study, which was considered to be acceptable, had been undertaken.  Referring to the PROW, Mr Lang informed the Committee that the plans displayed were indicative only and that further details would be submitted at the reserved matters stage, including whether the PROW needed moving or altering.

The site was a natural and logical location to expand the development of Fishburn and Mr Lang asked the Committee to approve the application.

The Planning and Development Solicitor advised the Committee that there was a separate legal process for the diversion of a PROW and it was not for the Committee to consider this level of detail.  It would be suggested that Mr Irvine hold discussions with the applicant regarding the PROW.  Mr Lang confirmed that the applicant would be happy to discuss this with PROW officers and Mr Irvine.

Councillor Tinsley informed the Committee that he considered that the application should be determined against NPPFT Part 14 and he could not find any adverse impacts of the development which would outweigh the benefits of it.  Councillor Tinsley moved approval of the application.

Seconded by Councillor Atkinson and

Resolved:

That the application be approved subject to the completion of a legal agreement pursuant to Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to secure the following:

·         10% Affordable housing

·         Securing on-site open space provision

·         Financial contributions towards play and recreational facilities at a pro-rata rate of £1,000 per residential unit

·         Ecological mitigation of buffer zones on site.

and subject to the Conditions contained in the report.