Proposed residential development of 46 dwellings, garages, associated roads, sewers and works.

Residential development of 46 dwellings, garages, associated roads, sewers and works.

The Senior Planning Officer reported the following updates to the report:

• Welsh Water had responded to the application with no objections.

·         CPRE had responded to the application with concerns about the amount of proposed car parking provision within the site, which it felt should be reduced if the Council is serious about reducing car use.  Also concerns had been raised about the insufficiently sustainable design.

The Senior Planning Officer gave the following response to the updates:

• The car parking and internal road layout and access to the site are in accordance with the Council’s Transportation Manager’s requests and therefore no objections are raised with regards to this issue.

• The issues with regards to sustainable design are covered by building regulations, to which objections raised are not considered valid enough in the event of an appeal in respect of this application.

The Senior Planning Officer said that he had made no change to the recommendation contained in the report, as a result of the updates. 

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking, Ms E. Newman spoke on behalf of Kington Town Council. 

The Local Ward Member, Councillor TM James, although accepting that the proposed density of dwellings was reasonable, expressed concern about parking on the site.  He said that the proposed play area was positioned incorrectly because it was out of the sight of most inhabitants, and this would make monitoring children’s whereabouts extremely difficult.  He was of the opinion that the design for the proposed dwellings was substandard and unimaginative, and would be detrimental to the surrounding area.  

In response to a question from Councillor LO Barnett, the Senior Planning Officer confirmed that Welsh Water had thoroughly examined drainage and sewerage issues, and had concluded that they were satisfactory.  

In response to a question from Councillor RV Stockton, the Northern Team Leader reported that the Section 106 agreement in relation to the leisure areas on the site, had been based on a ten-year maintenance figure, following advice from the Council’s Parks and Countryside Section.  

Having carefully considered all aspects of the application, members agreed on balance that it should be approved. 

RESOLVED:   That Reserved Matters be granted subject to the following conditions:

1       C01 (Samples of external materials)

         Reason: To ensure that the materials harmonise with the surroundings so as to ensure that the development complies with the requirements of Policy DR1 of Herefordshire Unitary Development Plan.

2       D04 (Details of window sections, eaves, verges and barge boards )

         Reason:  To ensure the development integrates into the surrounding countryside and to comply with the requirements of Policies DR1 and LA3 of the Herefordshire Unitary Development Plan.

3       D05 (Details of external joinery finishes)

Reason:  To ensure the development integrates into the surrounding countryside and to comply with the requirements of Policies DR1 and LA3 of the Herefordshire Unitary Development Plan.

4       F01 (Restriction on hours of working)

Reason: To safeguard the amenities of the locality and to comply with Policy DR2 of Herefordshire Unitary Development Plan.

5       No timber constructed fencing will be constructed alongside the site boundary with Old Eardisley Road without the prior permission of the Local Planning Authority in writing.

         Reason:  In order to retain the character of the area and to enable the hedgerow alongside the boundary to become established and to comply with Policies DR1, LA2 and LA3 of the Herefordshire Unitary Development Plan.

6       No windows in perpetuity (other than those as expressed by this permission) will be installed into the elevations of plot numbers 12, 6, 7, 8-11, 1, 46 and 42 facing Old Eardisley Road as indicated on the Planning Layout Drawing Number 07-104/02A.

         Reason:  In order to protect the privacy and amenity of adjoining dwellings and comply with Policy DR2 of the Herefordshire Unitary Development Plan.

7       H21 (Wheel washing)

         Reason: To ensure that the wheels of vehicles are cleaned before leaving the site in the interests of highway safety and to conform with the requirements of Policy DR3 of Herefordshire Unitary Development Plan

8       H27 (Parking for site operatives)

         Reason: To prevent indiscriminate parking in the interests of highway safety and to conform with the requirements of Policy DR3 of Herefordshire Unitary Development Plan

Informatives

1       N15 - Reason(s) for the Grant of Planning Permission

1           N19 - Avoidance of doubt - Approved Plans

2           N11A – Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) - Birds

3           N11C – General