Agenda item

The erection of 5 no 2.5 storey dwellings with associated hard and soft landscaping, boundary treatments and car parking (Revised and Resubmitted).

The Principal Planning Officer, Paul Hopper gave a detailed presentation on the report relating to the abovementioned planning application, a copy of which had been circulated (for copy see file of minutes).  Members noted that the written report was supplemented by a visual presentation which included photographs of the site.  The application was a revised and resubmitted application, having been deferred by the Committee at its meeting 8 March 2022, for the erection of 5 No. 2.5 storey dwellings with associated hard and soft landscaping, boundary treatments and car parking and was recommended for approval, subject to conditions. 

The Principal Planning Officer explained that additional information had been received in relation to ecological mitigation, with Officers now satisfied in relation to the protected habitat.

Councillor A Surtees entered the meeting at 9.39am

The Principal Planning Officer noted that, further to the report, Officers would ask that additional conditions relating to M4(2) accessibility, broadband and carbon reduction measures be included should the application be approved.

The Chair thanked the Principal Planning Officer and asked Councillor R Crute, Local Member, to speak in relation to the application.

Councillor R Crute thanked the Chair and Committee, adding that he had spoken at the meeting in March where he had given a background to the application.  He added that he remained fully in support of the application, with the site being in a sustainable location and the proposals being to bring a barren site back into use.  He added there were no objections from residents, and he was very pleased that Planners and the applicant had worked to resolve a seemingly intractable position in relation to the protected habitat.  He reiterated that he endorsed the proposals and the positive recommendation for approval by Officers.

The Chair thanked Councillor R Crute and asked the Committee for their comments and questions.

Councillor L Brown noted there was no condition referring to sustainability and asked whether it would be worded as per paragraph 124 of the report.  She also asked as regards the proposed condition relating to broadband. 

The Principal Planning Officer noted the condition was as per paragraph 124 and that the broadband condition would be the standard condition used.

Councillor J Elmer noted he was pleased that the applicant had taken the opportunity to work with Planners to come back with a scheme that Members, including himself, would not wish to oppose.  He asked what could be done should the proposed mitigation in relation to the impact on the protected habitat prove to be unsuccessful, and how that would be monitored.  The Principal Planning Officer noted that the current requirement would be for the developer to monitor, adding it would not be something that would be included within a s106 Agreement.  He added that the Council’s Ecologist felt the mitigation proposed would be successful and therefore the recommendation was for approval.

Councillor J Elmer moved that the application be approved, subject to the additional conditions referred to by the Principal Planning Officer.  Councillor M McGaun noted that the revised proposals represented a great example of how planning can work, with an application having the issues successfully ironed out, and added the Committee had heard from the Local Member in support of the application and therefore he would support the application.

Councillor A Bell echoed the comments from Councillor M McGaun and seconded the motion for approval, subject to the additional conditions as referred to by the Principal Planning Officer.

Upon a vote being taken it was:

RESOLVED

That the application be APPROVED, subject to the conditions and s106 Agreement as set out within the report and additional conditions relating to M4(2) accessibility, broadband and carbon reduction measures.