Agenda item

Erection of 51no. dwellings together with formation of site access, landscaping and associated works.

The Committee considered a report of the Senior Planning Officer for the erection of 51no dwellings together with the formation of site access, landscaping and associated works on land west of 31 to 32 Church Street, Coundon (for copy see file of minutes).

G Heron, Senior Planning Officer gave a detailed presentation that included a site location, site photographs that showed the view from the highway and the proposed elevations of the site.  A site visit had taken place prior to the committee meeting.  Within the consultation period objections had been received from the Highways Authority, the Coal Authority, the Lead Local Flood Authority and Environmental Health.  There were 200 letters of objection from members of the public.  There was no agreed scheme for the biodiversity net gain and the application had scored 9 red, 1 amber and 2 green classifications through the Council’s Design Review Team.   The scheme did not offer any affordable housing and the recommendation was to refuse the application.

Councillor C Kay addressed the Committee as the local member in support to refuse the application and thanked the Senior Planning Officer for her report.  He advised that his community was not wealthy but had an abundance of open space for everyone to enjoy.  He agreed that there was a need for housing but not at the expense of destroying the countryside. 

He noted that in the 1990’s the land had been used for grazing for cows and horses and although it did not have that function now it was classed as a greenfield site and would be a loss to Coundon if it were to be developed.  His community had a low level of car ownership with residents walking everywhere.  He himself had just established a new walking group in the area.  The application was of poor design and he urged the Committee to refuse the application.

There were no registered speakers in support of the application. 

Dr S Dobrowski and Dr T Featherstone gave a joint presentation to the Committee that was in support to refuse the planning application. 

Dr S Dobrowski noted that the land was a greenfield site that had 7-9 horses grazing on it.  There were 200 letters of objection from local residents who did not want the land to be developed for houses as the proposal did not meet the needs of the area and was not sustainable. It would spoil the countryside by tarmacking it over.  The exit of the proposed site on to the B6287 was next to a garage that had an obscured view that came round a sharp bend.  Motorists did in excess of 30mph that would make it dangerous.  The land frequently flooded with vast amounts of water.  He proposed a different approach to make the land into a green woodland space for the community to enjoy.

Dr T Featherstone lived near the site with 5 edges of the site bordering his land.  He reminded the Committee that it had been used in the coal industry in the past with open pit shafts which were still on his land.  He elaborated on the proposed alternative use for the land that could be considered as part of the masterplan for the area through a compulsory purchase order as there was a need for more open space with more wildlife to improve people’s mental health.  With climate initiatives woodland revival for tree planning could be carried out here to create a nature walk and public access.

S Pilkington, Principal Planning Officer stated that it was the planning application in front of committee that was to be considered nothing more.

As there were no questions from Members, the Chair opened up the committee for debate.

Councillor G Richardson stated he had attended the site visit and felt there was no need for discussion and Moved the application to be refused.

Councillor S Zair Seconded the application for refusal which was an easy decision as it was a poor planning application.

Councillor E Adam agreed with the previous two Councillors to refuse the application based on the grounds contained in the report.  He was disappointed that the applicant had not attended the meeting for Members to ask questions.  He was concerned with the 9 red classifications highlighted in the report that showed that the planning application had not met many standards for this type of development.  He was dissatisfied that the development had not offered any affordable housing as there was a desperate need for it in the area. 

Councillor S Quinn thanked the local Member Councillor C Kay for attending the Committee and fighting the case.  She agreed with the officer’s recommendation to refuse the application.

Councillor A Savory agreed to refuse the application based on the reasons in the report of no affordable house, 9 red flags and 200 letters of objection.

Councillor M Stead believed that a planning application would receive 10 or more objections but 200 letters of objection was a clear sign that everything was wrong with the application.

Upon a vote it was unanimously

Resolved

That the application be REFUSED for the reasons set out in the report.

Councillor S Zair left the meeting at 11am