Agenda item

Re-Plan of Phase II of Permission DM/17/01213/VOC comprising 120 Dwellings.

The Committee considered a report of the Senior Planning Officer regarding an application for the re-plan of Phase II of Permission DM/17/01213/VOC comprising 110 dwellings on land to the east of Clare Lodge and Durham Road, Chilton (for copy see file of Minutes).

S Pilkington, Senior Planning Officer provided a detailed presentation of the application which included a site location plan, aerial photograph, approved site layout and indicative Phase II, proposed Phase II layout, typical elevations, view towards southern boundary of the site and view from the main road towards Phase II.

Mr J Ridgeon of Avant Homes addressed the Committee.  He thanked planning officers and the local Member for their support and engagement during the application process.  The principles of the outline development were being adhered to.  Avant Homes were currently on site building and had received positive feedback from the site.  There was a strong demand for smaller homes and it was proposed to introduce 20 additional dwellings on the development to meet this demand.  The additional housing would be high quality affordable entry housing and would maintain the design principle of the development.  The application also brought with it an increased contribution towards open space and sporting provision, highway infrastructure capacity, education contribution and biodiversity enhancements.

Councillor Clare expressed frustration at developers applying for permission then discovering they needed more smaller houses and submitting a further application.  Design and Conservation officers had expressed concerns at the increased number of units on the development and density.  There was a lack of open space on the development and roads would be narrow.  While not prepared to reject the application, because this would fail at appeal, Councillor Clare expressed his objection to the process.

Councillor Richardson agreed with the views of Councillor Clare and suggested that the application should be refused on the grounds of increased density and the number of units.

Councillor Tinsley informed the meeting that he concurred with the views of Councillor Clare.

Councillor Kay informed the meeting that while he had sympathy with the views of Councillor Clare, it was unfair to single out one developer.  He could not see any planning grounds to refuse the application and moved approval of it.

Councillor Shield seconded approval of the application.

Upon a vote being taken it was

Resolved:

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

·         23 Affordable housing units across the development.

·         £131,258 towards open space and sporting provision within the Electoral Division

·         £116,495 towards highway infrastructure capacity improvements at Rushford roundabout.

·         £586,442 towards increasing the capacity of primary schools in the area.

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

and the Conditions contained in the report.