Proposed construction of seven houses and associated landscaping.

Application approved in accordance with the case officer’s recommendation and a change to conditions.

Councillor John Stone acted as a local ward member for the applications below.

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 Harris spoke on behalf of Brimfield and Little Hereford group parish council, Mr Norris, local resident, spoke in objection to the application and Mr Yarnold, applicant, spoke in support.

In accordance with the council's constitution the local ward member spoke on the application. In summary, he explained that the site was accessed by a narrow private road and two way movements were very difficult. The proposal for seven dwellings on the application site would generate a number of additional vehicle movements resulting in conflict between vehicles. It would be preferable for fewer dwellings on the application site given the local constraints. The parish council had expressed concerns regarding the application and opposed the proposal due to: road safety; insufficient parking on site; overdevelopment resulting in the loss of privacy in conflict with core strategy policy SD-1; and flood risk with potential for contamination of the land from local sewage infrastructure. The sewage system locally was inadequate with work required to the pumping station to renew its operation. It was recognised there was some support for the proposal which would introduce rental properties to the local area. Whilst the lack of a five year housing land supply required a presumption in favour there was concern that the view of the parish council was not taken into account. The NDP now had less weight as it was now 5 years old and the current application represented piece-meal development locally; local democracy and decision-making was undermined by the centralised imposition of housing targets. The application site was not in a sustainable location; the local area was lacking in services/facilities and local residents were dependent on cars.

The committee debated the application. It was recognised that there were certain constraints regarding the application site however it was acknowledged that there was a need within the county for two and three bedroom dwellings and rental properties. There was concern regarding arrangements for refuse collection from the site and it was felt that condition 13 should be a pre commencement condition that should be agreed in writing prior to construction of the development.

The Development Manager provided clarification that condition 13 could be required as a pre-commencement condition with final details for refuse management agreed prior to the construction of the development.

The local ward member was given the opportunity to close the debate. In summary, he explained that there was concern about the waste collection from the site and the cost to local residents of collection by private waste companies. Whilst it was noted that there was a need for more rental properties in the county these should be located in suitable locations. The objection of the parish council concerned: road safety relating to the access; insufficient parking on the site; uncertainty regarding  ...  view the full minutes text for item 66