Agenda item

Outline application for residential development (up to a maximum of 100 dwellings), including access, with all other matters reserved (amended details, July 2017).

The Committee considered a report of the Senior Planning Officer regarding an outline application for residential development (up to a maximum of 100 dwellings), including access, with all other matters reserved (for copy see file of Minutes).

The Senior Planning Officer gave a detailed presentation on the application which included a plan of the application site, photographs from the A68, the indicative site layout and a local public right of way.

Councillor H Smith, one of the local Members had made representations on the application but was unable to attend the meeting due to illness.  The Committee were informed that Councillor Smith had expressed concerned at the increased traffic noise, the limited infrastructure of the surrounding area and felt that the development was not sustainable.

The Committee then heard from the agent of the applicant who explained that the applicant had worked closely with Highways Officers and relocated the site access to ensure that parking for existing residents would be retained.  Acceptable application in all other respects, the application should be considered in favour of sustainable development and the relevant elements of the NPPF.

Toft Hill, High Etherley and Low Etherley were classed as medium-sized villages in the 2012 settlement survey with good facilities nearby including a doctors surgery. The development of 100 houses on the site would significantly support local services and the immediate surrounding areas including Bishop Auckland and Tindale Crescent (3 miles away) and West Auckland (1.8 miles). Other applications for housing in High Etherley had been approved.  Previous discussions had also taken place with County Council landscape officers regarding a landscape buffer and these would be offset by areas of open space. The agent requested that refusal on the grounds of adverse landscape impacts should be removed.

Councillor G Richardson informed the Committee that he had considered the application carefully but ultimately felt that the infrastructure of the immediate area, road congestion where there already tended to be pinch points and moved the recommendation for refusal.

Councillor J Clare thanked the agent for their presentation and had made some observations. Firstly, the strength of the application in terms of the weighting of the Council’s current position on housing land supply as outlined by the Solicitor prior to consideration of the items. Secondly, the information provided by the applicant regarding Toft Hill being classed as a large to medium sized village. Councillor Clare considered that a 10% increase in size, should the application be approved, would have a considerable impact on the infrastructure of the village. Councillor Clare accepted that whilst landscaping issues may have been addressed, there were many other factors to overcome and felt that a case for approval had not been made. Councillor Clare seconded refusal of the application.

Upon a vote being taken it was:

Resolved

That the application be refused for the reason outlined in the report.