Apologies were received from Councillor PA Andrews.

To any details of Members nominated to attend the meeting in place of a Member of the Committee.

In accordance with paragraph 4.1.23 of the Council’s Constitution, Councillor TM James attended the meeting as a substitute member for Councillor PA Andrews.

Councillor P Rone also attended the meeting and utilised the vacant Conservative Group seat on the Planning Committee.

7. N123067/F - LAND AT THE COACH HOUSE, OLD CHURCH ROAD, COLWALL, MALVERN.

Councillor AW Johnson, Non-Pecuniary, .

To approve and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 9 January 2013.

Councillor PGH Cutter, the Chairman of the Planning Committee, requested that his declaration of interest be amended to remove reference to the St Joseph’s Convent which had now closed.

RESOLVED:   That the Minutes of the meeting held on 9 January 2013 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

There were no announcements.

The Planning Committee requested clarification in respect of the appeal at Porthouse farm where the appeal had been lost yet costs against the Council were awarded. The Development Manager (Northern Localities) confirmed that the appellant had lost the appeal on a legal technicality but that the Council had lost on all of the planning reasons. He added that the costs had not been determined at this stage but that the figure would be a five figure sum. He also advised Members that a further application would be forthcoming. [inserted at Planning Committee meeting dated 20 February 2013]

In respect of the appeal at Chapel Cottage, Wellington, the Development Manager (Northern Localities) confirmed that the costs awarded to the Council would be under £1000.

Erection of two storey dwellinghouse.

The application was approved in accordance with the case officer’s recommendation.

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 Ashton, representing Colwall Parish Council, spoke in objection to the application and Mr Barry, the applicant’s agent, spoke in support.

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

·         There were very few objections from local residents.

·         The application had been bourn out as a result of the health needs of the applicant.

·         The proposed screening would address any concerns.

·         There were no windows on the northern elevation of the proposed dwelling.

·         One additional dwelling would not have an adverse impact on traffic in the area.

·         The proposed dwelling was adjacent to the settlement boundary but would have been inside the settlement boundary had it been a straight line.

·         Both local ward members supported the application.

The Committee opened the debate with a Member speaking in support of the application. He did however request that the Committee consider two minor amendments to the recommendation. He was of the opinion that the informative note regarding land drainage consent should be added as a condition and that condition 7 should be amended to require mature planting.

In response to a question regarding the zinc roof, the Principal Planning Officer confirmed that the roof was not corrugated but that it did have seams which added to the aesthetics of the roof. He also confirmed that the roof would initially be a silver grey colour but that it would end up as a more weathered colour. In response to a further question he confirmed that the render would be white or off-white.

Members noted that the proposed dwelling was the second application to meet the ‘Passivhaus’ standard bought before committee in recent months. They welcomed the sustainable nature of the application.

Concerns were expressed in respect of the Council’s lack of a five year housing supply. The Committee felt that this matter needed to be resolved as a matter of urgency to avoid a large number of similar applications being submitted throughout the County. It was noted that Parish Councils were still making their recommendations based on settlement boundaries but that this had changed significantly with the introduction of the National Planning Policy Framework in 2012 and a presumption in favour of sustainable development on sites adjoining the settlement boundary.

In response to a number of issues raised during the debate the Principal Planning Officer confirmed that part of the site had flooded in 2007 but that the proposed dwelling was not due to be sited on this portion of the site. He also confirmed that planning conditions should not deal with matters that were subject to a separate process. Therefore he advised the Committee against making the informative note requiring land drainage consent into a condition. In response to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 137.

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.

Date of next site inspection:   19 February 2013

Date of next meeting:             20 February 2013