Site for a proposed residential development for 39 dwellings.

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

(Site for a proposed residential development for 39 dwellings.)

The Development Manager gave a presentation on the application.  This included reference to the fact that all vehicular access to serve the development would be from the A40 only.  In addition, the spire of the listed church could be seen from the site but the development was not detrimental to the Church’s setting.

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking Mrs V Eversfield and Mr M Haines, local residents, spoke in objection to the Scheme.  Ms J Joseph, the applicant’s agent spoke in support.

In accordance with paragraph 4.8.2.2 of the Council’s Constitution, Councillor H Bramer, the local ward member, spoke on the application.

He commented on a number of issues including:

·         The majority of Lea Parish Council and Lea Action Group supported the application.

·         He complimented officers on the work that had been undertaken with the applicant to seek to mitigate the effects the development would have on local residents, a matter of paramount importance.

·         He acknowledged the situation created by the Council’s lack of a 5 year housing land supply.  However, he remarked that the village currently contained 218 dwellings.  There were four current planning applications in the locality which, if all were approved would amount to an additional 150 dwellings.  The site that was the subject of the application before the Committee was the Parish Council’s preferred site.

·         The development was in the centre of the village and would support the local amenities.  The school was within walking distance and the developer would provide a new pedestrian crossing.

·         The biggest challenge facing Lea was flooding.  The S106 agreement provided a substantial sum for flood alleviation matters.  This would attract additional Government funding, enabling flooding in Lea to be eradicated to the significant benefit of the residents.

The debate opened and the following principal points were made:

·         The flood alleviation works were clearly of benefit.

·         The settlement was outside but adjacent to the settlement boundary.

·         Account should be taken of the comments of the Conservation Officer (Landscape).

·         It was requested that the provision of high level sustainable buildings was encouraged at the reserved matters stage.

·         Whilst acknowledging the absence of a five year housing land supply, there was some concern about the potential impact on the village if all the current applications for development were to be approved.  Clarification was sought on how pending applications would be considered if the application before the Committee was approved.  The Development Manager commented that each application had to be considered on its merits. 

·         The development was too large.  Smaller developments around the village would be a better approach.

·         The site was close to amenities.

·         The site had been identified in the Strategic Housing Land Assessment Appraisal.

The application was in outline and it would be important to ensure that there was appropriate consultation on the reserved matters.  It was requested that particular consideration should be given to the concerns raised by the public speakers about the impact of the scheme.

The local ward member was given the opportunity to close the debate.  He considered that it would be possible at the reserved matters stage to mitigate the effects on nearby housing.  Restricting vehicular access to the A40 was an important measure.  The Parish Council had informed him that plans were in place to implement flood alleviation measures once full planning permission for the development was obtained and the S106 monies released.

The Development Manager commented that the concerns expressed by local residents would be mitigated by conditions.  The report to the Committee concluded at paragraph 6.35 by recommending that the developer conducted further consultation with the Parish Council and the local community on the detail of a reserved matters submission to ensure support for the final scheme.

RESOLVED: That subject to the completion of a Section 106 Town & Country Planning Act 1990 obligation agreement in accordance with the Heads of Terms stated in the report, officers named in the Scheme of Delegation to Officers are authorised to grant Outline Planning Permission, subject to the conditions below and any other further conditions considered necessary:

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