Proposed development of ten dwellings including 2 affordable homes and 2 self build plots and associated access road, footpath link, sustainable drainage, hedgerow, tree and orchard planting.

The application was approved in accordance with the Case Officer’s recommendation.

(Proposed development of ten dwellings including 2 affordable homes and 2 self build plots and associated access road, footpath link, sustainable drainage, hedgerow, tree and orchard planting.)

(Councillor J Hardwick fulfilled the role of local ward member and accordingly had no vote on this application.)

The Principal Planning Officer (PPO) gave a presentation on the application.

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking, Mr R Pryce, the applicant’s agent, spoke in support of the application.

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, the local ward member, Councillor J Hardwick, spoke on the application.

He reported that he had requested that the application be considered by the committee because of local interest in the matter.  The draft Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) could not be given weight.  A great deal of work had been carried out on the application with regard to the design and he supported it.

In the Committee’s discussion of the application the following principal points were made:

·        The development would change Tarrington.  However, careful consideration had been given to the design.  The development included affordable housing.  It was to be hoped that it would contribute to the overall sustainability of the settlement.  It was not an overdevelopment.  It would bring improvements to the unclassified road.

·        The extra planting and open space was welcomed.  It was requested that care be taken to protect tree root systems.

·        The Parish Council supported main housing growth in the core of Tarrington village.  However, no weight could be attributed to the draft NDP at this stage.

In response to questions the PPO commented:

·        Neither Welsh Water nor the Environment Agency had provided an update in relation to an ongoing pollution issue at Garbrook to which the report referred.  The Council’s land drainage officer had had no comment on that issue.  Clarification would be sought.

·        The Transportation Manager had no objection to the proposed access with the current speed limits.  However, the extant permission for 15 dwellings on an adjacent site included a financial contribution towards a Traffic Regulation Order to reduce speeds from Tarrington towards Garbrook.  In response to an enquiry Balfour Beatty Living Places had invited the Parish Council to submit a formal request.  No response had as yet been received.  However, this was not a requirement in order for the development to proceed.  The visibility splays were acceptable at the current speeds.

·        There were a number of policy issues to be balanced.  The site was not within or adjacent to the built up area of Tarrington or of Little Tarrington where development would have been permitted in accordance with policy RA2. However, having regard to the absence of a 5 year housing land supply and the provisions of the National Planning Policy Framework officers considered that the scheme addressed the key issues and the benefits outweighed the adverse impact of the conflict with policy RA2 and policy RA3.  Unlike many settlements outside of a settlement boundary residents would have access to the main built up area with a number of improvements  ...  view the full minutes text for item 137