Agenda item

Replan of part of Phase 1 of permission DM/17/01213/VOC comprising 47 dwellings, incorporating 12 additional dwellings (Total of 106 dwellings on Phase 1)

The Committee considered a report of the Senior Planning Officer regarding an application for the replan of part of Phase 1 of permission DM/17/01213/VOC comprising 47 dwellings, incorporating 12 additional dwellings (total of 106 dwellings on Phase 1) (for copy see file of Minutes).

S Pilkington, Senior Planning Officer gave a detailed presentation of the application which included a site location plan, aerial view of the site, approved layout, proposed layout, typical elevations, view of the development from Durham Road and a view of the southern boundary.

P Jones, agent for the applicant, addressed the Committee.  The application was a replan of an element of the approved scheme and proposed to replace 32 of the approved plots with 52 smaller 2. 3 and 4 bed dwellings.  These would be aimed at a wider customer base at the entry level of the housing market for which there was a strong demand in the area.  First time buyers of new homes were able to qualify for the Government’s Help to Buy Scheme which enabled them to buy a home with a very low deposit and with reduced mortgage payments.  It was proposed that the dwellings would start from £125,000 which would mean first time buyers would be able to purchase a new home through the Help to Buy Scheme for as little as £100,000.

The application was fully policy compliant with the 10% affordable housing being phased as agreed with the Authority and reflected in the s106 agreement.  There would be increased s106 agreement payments to local education and towards off-site open space.

Councillor Wilson asked whether the application, which brought with it a slightly amended s106 agreement, would result in any density issues on the development.  The Senior Planning Officer replied that the additional 12 units proposed were smaller units and this had been reduced form an initially proposed 20 additional units.  There would be 8 affordable units built in the first phase with the remainder in the second phase, which the Senior Planning Officer was confident would be delivered.

Councillor Wilson moved approval of the application.

Councillor Clare informed the Committee that the layout of the development had previously been agreed and there were no grounds to refuse this application.  Councillor Clare referred to Paragraph 54 in the report and sought clarity on the concern raised by the Police Architectural Liaison Officer regarding the use of parking courts.  Councillor Clare was concerned that the increased density of the development would result in the removal of off-street parking provision.  The Senior Planning Officer replied that the comments of the Police Architectural Liaison Officer were based on the initial application for an additional 20 units which were situated around parking courts.  However, parking courts were not now proposed.  The development met all parking standards regarding visitor and in curtilage parking.

Councillor Shield asked whether any of the proposed dwellings would be within the root protection areas on the southern boundary.  Parking standards for compliance to park had reduced from 1.7 cars per dwelling to 1.3 cars per dwelling and fewer spaces and more cars could lead to increased angst and disputes.  Councillor Shield suggested that this policy should be revised.

The Senior Planning Officer replied that the concerns regarding root protection on the southern boundary had been raised by landscape officers when the application was for an additional 20 properties.  However, this application would not impact on any root protection areas and this was illustrated on an overhead plan.

A Glenwright, Principal DM Engineer informed the Committee that parking provision on the application proposed that all but three dwellings, which were affordable dwellings, had a provision of 2 car parking spaces each which was in excess of minimum requirements.  There was provision of 12 visitor spaces throughout the development, which required 8 to meet standards.  The development had a good level of parking.

Councillor McKeon asked whether the proposed increase s106 contribution was in accordance with the number of dwellings and the number of people living in the dwellings.  The Senior Planning Officer replied that the increased education and open space contribution was would increase pro-rata with the number of units.

Seconded by Councillor Maddison

Upon a vote being taken it was

Resolved:

That the application be approved subject to the completion of a Section 106 Legal Agreement to secure the provision of the following across the whole development site:-

·         10% Affordable housing.

·         £122,507 towards open space and sporting provision within the Electoral Division

·         £104,400 towards highway infrastructure capacity improvements at Rushyford roundabout.

·         £498,224 towards increasing the capacity of primary schools in the area.

·         £33,165 to deliver targeted biodiversity enhancements in the area.

and subject to the conditions contained in the report.