Agenda item

DM/18/01812/FPA - Land to the North of Middridge Road, Newton Aycliffe

16 additional dwellings linked to DM/16/00985/OUT

 

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Senior Planning Officer regarding an application for 16 additional dwellings linked to DM/16/00985/OUT on land to the north of Middridge Road, Newton Aycliffe (for copy see file of Minutes).

 

C Harding, Senior Planning Officer provided a detailed presentation of the application which included a site location plan, aerial photograph, site layout, overall site masterplan and views across the site.

 

Councillor Jewell informed the meeting that he was becoming increasingly frustrated with applicants obtaining planning permission for a development and then coming back later to seek additional properties on the site.  The number of objections was very low and the application was appropriate and Councillor Jewell moved approval of the application.

 

Councillor Wilkes agreed with Councillor Jewell’s frustration and expressed concern about potential future parking problems in the proposed culs-de-sac. 

 

Councillor Tinsley considered that there was no option other than to support the application.  Issues about layout, roads and parking were best dealt with through the County Plan.  Councillor Tinsley seconded approval of the application.

 

Councillor Clare considered he had little to add to the debate.  The applicant’s statement did not address why an additional 16 dwellings were required and he was worried developers were cramming in more houses with smaller roads and smaller driveways.  Councillor Clare sought clarity on whether the initial and this application were outline or full applications.

 

The Senior Planning Officer replied that the development site had been disposed of by Homes England and the application for an additional 16 dwellings was as a result of discussions between Homes England and Keepmoat Homes.  The permission for the 240 dwellings on the site was outline, this application for an additional 16 dwellings was a full application.  The reserved matters application for the 240 dwellings had been received and was currently being considered, but both applications were compatible.

 

Councillor Kay informed the Committee he had sat on Planning Committees for many years.  One constant was that developers obtain consent then discharge conditions and apply for additional dwellings to be built and the end result did not reflect the original application.  There were narrow access roads through the development with hammerheads which were used for parking and consent was being given in the knowledge of what these problems were.

 

The Senior Planning Officer sought delegated authority for minor changes to the Conditions proposed in the report.  There were typographical errors to amend in Condition 2, an amendment to Condition 3 to enable the developer to get on site and a change to a plan number, and Condition 17 could be shortened.

 

Councillor Shield referred to paragraph 42 of the report regarding highways concerns with Plots 11 and 13 and asked what had been done to alleviate these concerns.  The Senior Planning Officer replied that Plots 11 and 13 had been amended to take access off a straight road and highways now had no concerns.

 

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 following:

  • provision of 15% affordable housing units on site.
  • £8,712 towards the provision of improvements of outdoor sport space within Aycliffe North and Middridge Electoral Division,
  • £1,800 towards biodiversity improvement projects within Aycliffe North and Middridge Electoral Division

 

and the Conditions contained in the report, subject to amendment as explained by the Senior Planning Officer.

Supporting documents: