To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors Graham Andrews, James, Graham Jones, and Millmore.

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

Councillor Bowen substituted for Councillor Graham Andrews, Councillor Mike Jones for Councillor Graham Jones and Councillor Shaw for Councillor Millmore.

To receive declarations of interests in respect of Schedule 1, Schedule 2 or Other Interests from members of the committee in respect of items on the agenda.

Agenda item 7: Application 204274 – Land adjoining Duke Street, Withington

Councillor Polly Andrews declared an other declarable interest because she knew some of the objectors to the application.

Councillor Hardwick declared an other declarable interest because he knew the applicant and some of the objectors to the application.

Agenda item 8: Application 191409 – Tower Lodge, 15 Linton Lane, Bromyard

Councillor Seldon declared an other declarable interest because he knew some of the objectors to the application.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 3 March 2021.

RESOLVED:   That the minutes of the meeting held on 3 March 2021 be approved as a correct record.

To receive any announcements from the Chairperson.

The Chairperson informed the committee of a change to the order in which the agenda items would be considered with agenda item 7, being considered first, followed by agenda items 6 and 8.

He also reported that Mr Alastair Wager, Senior Planning Officer, was leaving the authority.  On behalf of the Committee he thanked him for his work for the council and wished him well for the future.

Outline permission for the demolition of an existing dwelling, the erection of up to 3 x residential dwellings with associated drive and access alterations (all other matters reserved).

The application was approved in accordance with the Case Officer’s recommendation, with additional conditions.

(Outline permission for the demolition of an existing dwelling, the erection of up to 3 x residential dwellings with associated drive and access alterations (all other matters reserved).

(The agenda order was changed and this agenda item was considered as the second substantive item with agenda item 7: Duke Street, Withington, considered first.)

(Councillor Paul Andrews had left the meeting and was not present during consideration of this application. Councillor Wilding was unable to be present during all of the consideration of the application and accordingly did not vote on this application.)

(The Committee had deferred consideration of this application at its meeting on 3 March 2021)

The Senior Planning Officer gave a presentation on the application.

He added that it was proposed to include an additional condition regarding the management of flood and surface water.

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking for virtual meetings, Dinedor Parish Council had submitted a written submission in objection to the application.  This was read to the meeting.   Mr J Lively, the applicant, spoke in support of the application as a virtual attendee.

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, the local ward member, Councillor Summers, spoke on the application.  In summary, he expressed concerns about highway safety, remarking on the number of applications for development along what was a narrow single track road already unfit for purpose.  The Parish Council and residents opposed the application and had expressed concerns about flooding and the road’s condition.  There were no local amenities and no transport links.

The Committee discussed the application.

The local ward member was given the opportunity to close the debate.  He reiterated his opposition to the proposal.  He expressed reservations about a divergence of the Neighbourhood Development Plan from local wishes through the approval process.

A motion in support of the application with an additional condition regarding the management of flood and surface water was carried.

RESOLVED:  That planning permission be granted with an additional condition regarding the management of flood and surface water, and subject to the following conditions and any other further conditions considered necessary by officers named in the scheme of delegation to officers:

1.         C02 - Time limit for submission of reserved matters (outline permission)

2.         C03 - Time limit for commencement (outline permission)

3.         C04 - Approval of reserved matters

4.         C06 - Development in accordance with the approved plans

5.         CBK - Restriction of hours during construction

6.         CE6 - Efficient use of water

7.         A Construction Site Waste Management Plan shall be submitted to and approved by the LPA prior to development commencing on site to ensure waste management provisions compliment the construction activities on site and that all waste emanating from the development are dealt with in an appropriate manner and follows the waste hierarchy. The Plan shall include, but not be limited to:

            (i) a description of the likely quantity and nature of waste streams that will be generated during construction of the development;

            (ii) measures to monitor and manage waste generated  ...  view the full minutes text for item 94.

Proposed improvements to existing field access and construction of farm track.

The application was approved in accordance with the Case Officer’s recommendation, with amended/additional conditions.

(Proposed improvements to existing field access and construction of farm track.)

(The agenda order was changed and this agenda item was considered as the first substantive item.)

(Councillor Paul Andrews fulfilled the role of local ward member and accordingly had no vote on this application.)

(The Committee had deferred consideration of this application at its meeting on 3 March 2021).

The Senior 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, as appended to these minutes.

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking for virtual meetings, Withington Group Parish Council had submitted a written representation in objection to the application.  This was read to the meeting.   A written submission in objection to the application had been submitted on behalf of residents of Duke Street.  This was read to the meeting.   Mr P Smith, the applicant’s agent, spoke in support of the application as a virtual attendee.

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, the local ward member, Councillor Paul Andrews, spoke on the application.  In summary, he opposed the application, expressing concerns about highway safety, questioning the need for improving an existing but little used field access to the standard proposed, given that there were already several accesses and it was not proposed to close the main current one, and referencing drainage issues on Duke Street.

The Committee discussed the application.

The Development Manager commented that it would be feasible to amend proposed condition 3 to require a porous surface for the new access track to be sought.

The local ward member was given the opportunity to close the debate.  He reiterated his objection.  However, if the Committee was minded to approve the application he requested that the applicant’s offer to accept a condition requiring the continued use of the main farm access off Lock Road should be agreed.  He also emphasised the importance of any drainage measures being properly maintained.

A motion in support of the application with amendments to condition 3 requiring a porous surface for the new access track and a condition requiring the continued use of the main farm access off Lock Road was carried.

RESOLVED: That planning permission be granted with amendments to condition 3 requiring a porous surface for the new access track and a condition requiring the continued use of the main farm access off Lock Road and subject to the following conditions and any further conditions considered necessary by officers named in the scheme of delegation to officers.:

1.         C01 - Time limit for commencement (full permission)    

2.         C07 - Development in accordance with approved plans and materials

3.         CAE - Vehicular access construction

            The construction of the vehicular access shall be carried out in accordance with a specification to be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority, at a gradient not steeper than 1 in 12.

            Reason: In the interests of highway safety and to conform to the requirements of Policy MT1  ...  view the full minutes text for item 95.

Proposed redevelopment of Tower Lodge, 15 Linton Lane, Bromyard to include alterations to existing dwelling together with construction of two new dwellings.

The application was refused in accordance with the Case Officer’s recommendation, with additional grounds for refusal.

(Proposed redevelopment of Tower Lodge, 15 Linton Lane, Bromyard to include alterations to existing dwelling together with construction of two new dwellings.)

(Councillor Paul Andrews had left the meeting and was not present during consideration of this application.  Councillor Shaw fulfilled the role of local ward member and accordingly had no vote on this application.)

The Senior 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, as appended to these minutes.

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking for virtual meetings, Mrs G Churchill of Bromyard and Winslow Town Council spoke in opposition to the scheme as a virtual attendee. Mr M Darwood, a local resident, had submitted a written submission in objection to the application on behalf of himself and other residents.  This was read to the meeting.  Mr P Brooks, the applicant, had made a written submission in support of the application.  This was read to the meeting.

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, the local ward member, Councillor Shaw, spoke on the application.  In summary, he highlighted the extent of local concern about the application and his view that there were additional grounds for refusal of the application which would remain even when the proposed ground for refusal the adverse impact on the River Wye Special Area of Conservation, had been resolved at some point in the future.  He suggested that the first additional ground was on highway safety in that the development would be contrary to paragraph 110 (d) of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) as the development would not allow for the efficient delivery of goods, and access by service and emergency vehicles and accordingly the proposal was also contrary to Core Strategy (CS) policy MT1.  The second ground related to adverse impact on the character and appearance of the area and the amenity of overlooked dwellings.  The proposal was contrary to paragraph 127 of the NPPF and accordingly was also contrary to CS policies BY1, LD1 and SD1.

The Committee discussed the application.

The Development Manager highlighted the absence of an objection from the Transportation Manager on highway safety grounds and sought clarification from the Committee on this suggested ground for refusal.

The local ward member was given the opportunity to close the debate.  He reiterated his suggested additional grounds for refusal and expanded further upon them concluding that the harm caused by the development outweighed its benefits.

A motion in support of refusal of the application based on the ground set out in the report, namely the adverse impact on the River Wye Special Area of Conservation,

and the following additional grounds was carried: the proposal was contrary to paragraph 110 (d) of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) in that the development would not allow for the efficient delivery of goods, and access by service and emergency vehicles and paragraphs 108 and 109 of the NPPFand accordingly the proposal was also contrary to Core  ...  view the full minutes text for item 96.

Date of next site inspection – 6 April 2021

Date of next meeting – 7 April 2021

Noted.