Proposed erection of 20 dwellings, with associated new access (via Tump Lane), car parking arrangements, communal house, new POS (extension of existing play area) and new stretches of footpath with passing places (north and west bound along Tump Lane).

Application approved with a change to the conditions.

Councillor Jennie Bartlett acted as local ward member for the application below.  She was acting as a proxy for the local ward member for Birch  who had declared an interest in the application.

The Principal Planning Officer provided a presentation on the application and the updates/representations received following the publication of the agenda.

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking Mr James, local resident, spoke in objection to the application and Ms Shaw, the applicant, spoke in support.

In accordance with the Council’s constitution the proxy local ward member spoke on the application. In summary, she explained that the application proposed a co-housing model which incorporated affordable housing elements with a priority for local residents of Much Birch. The development would contribute to the overall housing strategy in Herefordshire and locally, in accordance with the neighbourhood development plan (NDP) policy MB9. The development was environmentally sympathetic, existing planting would be maintained and additional planting would be provided on site. There would be an extension to the childrens’ play area and new equipment would be provided as part of the application. During the consultation period the applicant had replied positively to correspondence from consultees and to all queries received. Although there was no immediate plan to adopt the internal road as part of local authority highways it would be built to a high standard that could be adopted in future if appropriate. As part of the application, improvements to highway safety along Tump Lane had been proposed including a new footway. This was in accordance with NDP policy MB1. The applicant had attempted to address all concerns regarding the development including objections to the loss of garages which had been mitigated by the provision of new parking spaces on the site. There was a good level of support for the application and the site formed part of NDP policy MB8. The local parish council had no objections to the proposal and no objections had been raised at the parish council meeting at which the application was considered. The principle for development on the site had been established, the conditions provided a good framework to regulate the development and support was expressed for the production of a construction management plan.

The committee debated the application. There was support for the application across the committee. The committee raised the importance of protecting the existing play area during construction and the inclusion of a condition relating to EV charging on the site.

The proxy local ward member was given the opportunity to close the debate. She explained that the protection of the existing play area during construction was welcomed and the proposal included provision for 8 electric charging points in the communal parking area.

Councillor Richard Thomas proposed and Councillor Dave Davis seconded a motion that the application be approved with a change to the conditions to protect the existing play area during construction and to require the provision of EV charging points.

The motion was put to the vote and was carried  ...  view the full minutes text for item 53