Agenda item

Erection of 14 dwellings (revised description 03/08/2017)

The Committee considered a report of the Senior Planning Officer regarding a planning application for the erection of 14 dwellings at former Vine Place Sports Garage, Durham Road, Chilton, Ferryhill (for copy see file of minutes).

The Senior Planning Officer gave a detailed presentation of the application which included a site location plan, aerial view of the site, various photographs of the site and proposed site plan.

The Agent, Mr D Marjoram spoke on behalf of the Applicant and in support of the proposal.  The previous application had been approved in September and therefore the development was accepted by the Committee in principle.  The owner of Jubilee Cottage had changed their mind with regards to the position of the access route and therefore it could not be progressed.  The access had been suitably repositioned with no objections from Highways and the position of the units were slightly closer to Jubliee Cottage, but there would be no impact on privacy or loss of light. 

Mr Marjoram confirmed the benefits to the local area included regeneration of a derelict site, an increase in housing, and contributions to offsite open space.  Finally, he confirmed that nothing within the NPPF indicated that the proposal should be refused and requested the Committee to approve the application.

Councillor Richardson confirmed that this application was similar to the previous application approved and again there was no material reason to refuse and therefore he moved the recommendation to approve. 

Councillor Patterson confirmed that units 1 and 2 were 3 storeys high and queried what impact that would have on Jubliee Cottage in terms of light.  The Senior Planning Officer confirmed that the application was similar to what had previously been approved in 2007 - the separation distance was sufficient and the windows of the property were secondary.  On balance, the impact was not significant enough to justify refusal.

The recommendation to approve was seconded by Councillor Shuttleworth and it was:

Resolved:

That the application be APPROVED subject to the completion of a Section 106 agreement to secure the following:

·         Financial contributions towards offsite open space and recreational provision at pro-rata rate of £2,244 per residential unit.

And subject to the conditions as outlined in the report.