Outline application for 35 unit housing scheme with associated access.

The determination of the application was deferred pending a further information report in accordance with paragraph 5.12.10.4 of the Council’s Constitution.

The Principal Planning Officer gave a presentation on the application and updates / additional representations received following the publication of the agenda were provided in the update sheet

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking, Mr Wright, representing Kingstone and Thruxton Parish Council, and Mr Barton, a neighbouring resident, spoke in objection to the application and Mr Reed, the applicant’s agent, spoke in support.

In accordance with paragraph 4.8.2.2 of the Council’s Constitution, Councillor JF Knipe, the local ward member, commented on a number of issues, including:

·         That Welsh Water were unable to deliver a piped supply to the reservoir therefore a number of HGV’s delivered water via the narrow Kingstone roads.

·         The primary bus route from Kingstone picked passengers up approximately a mile away from the proposed site. This route was currently unlit.

·         People would have to travel to work as there was little employment in Kingstone itself.

·         What would happen if the Welsh Water upgrade required did not take place?

·         The Council needed to address the core strategy to avoid a number of similar application outside of the settlement boundaries of villages throughout the County.

·         Why was the cycling policy referred to in the list of appropriate policies, the roads around Kingstone were not safe for cyclists.

In response to a number of points made by the local ward member, the Development Manager (Northern Localities) confirmed that:

·         If the upgrades were not completed by Welsh Water, the dwellings could not be occupied.

·         The Core Strategy was being set out through the LDF process by the Planning Policy team headed up by Andrew Ashcroft.

·         The cycling policy was referred to as a number of cycle routes were being extended throughout the county including a route to Madley industrial estate.

The committee opened the debate by voicing their concerns in respect of the application. The first Member who spoke was of the opinion that he could not support the application. He added that there were a number of narrow roads in the area which were used by agricultural vehicles as well as large HGV’s. He also noted that the public had made their feelings known in respect of the application with 84% of local residents against it and that this was supported with 69 letters of objection received by the Planning Department. He then went on to address the issue of sustainability and stated that the site was clearly not sustainable as there was no employment available in Kingstone as well as the difficulty in accessing Hereford City due to the traffic issues on the A465 through Belmont. In summing up he felt that the Council had a duty to listen to the residents of Kingstone who had made it clear that they did not want the development as the dwellings were not needed. This had been confirmed as the Parish Council had completed a housing survey which had shown that there was not a need for such a large number of dwellings in Kingstone.

Another Member stated  ...  view the full minutes text for item 138