Site for erection of up to 10 houses with highway access onto Wyson Lane, associated infrastructure and landscaping. 

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

(Site for erection of up to 10 houses with highway access onto Wyson lane, associated infrastructure and landscaping.)

The Development Manager 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, Mr M Tucker, the applicant’s agent, spoke in support of the application.

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, the local ward member, Councillor J Stone, spoke on the application.

He made the following principal comments:

• The revised layout of the scheme represented an improvement, addressing concerns about the effect on dwellings of noise from the A49.
• The access was identified as being in flood zone 3.  However, in the 2007 floods flooding had occurred on the opposite side of the lane.  There had been no flooding on or near the site.  He considered that the flooding in the lane had been the result of surface water run-off.  The Environment Agency had made no objection to the access.
• Sewerage overflow had been an ongoing issue in the area and there was concern locally that additional housing would add to the problems. However, Severn Trent had no objection subject to the inclusion of an appropriate condition.
• The Neighbourhood Plan was opposed to development on the site.
• The provision of 3 affordable dwellings was to be welcomed.
• There had been objections from 6 local residents. 
• The Parish Council had objected to the proposal and its grounds of objection were set out a paragraph 5.1 of the report, including traffic issues, sewerage and the fact that the site was not included in the Neighbourhood Plan.
• The A49 was not affected too much by the proposal.
• The site had been unused for some time.
• In conclusion, weighing the application in the balance, he noted that the revised scheme contained positive elements including the provision of affordable housing and contributed to the housing target within the Core Strategy, The traffic issues were serious but may not be sufficient to outweigh the positive elements.

In the Committee’s discussion of the application the following principal points were made:

·        The scheme offered community benefits.

·        The density of the proposed scheme was below the 30-50 density level provided for in the relevant Unitary Development Plan policy.

·        Most of the objections related to speeding traffic and congestion on Wyson Lane rather than to the site itself. 

·        The Development Manager acknowledged a concern about the importance of retaining the hedge between the development and the A49 and that the retention could be secured by condition.

·        It was essential that measures to reduce noise were in place from the outset of the occupation of the development.

·        The draft heads of terms referred to the quality and sustainability of the design of the affordable homes.  It was requested that a higher level than that set out be sought.

·        The Parish Council had objected to the proposal.  The site was not included in the Neighbourhood Plan which had reached Regulation 16 stage and could therefore be assumed to be consistent with the Core Strategy, yet the report stated that no weight could be given to the Plan.  It was asked if there had been any update to the calculation of the five year housing land supply made in May 2014.

The Development Manager commented that there was not an update to the calculation of the five year housing land supply.  When the Core Strategy was adopted the supply would be above that required.  However, if the application were approved Brimfield would still have to identify land for a further 47 dwellings to meet the provision in the Core Strategy.  A development of 10 houses represented organic growth.

The Development Manager noted that the mix of tenures referred to in paragraph 8 of the heads of terms was yet to be finalised.

The local ward member was given the opportunity to close the debate.  He commented that the visibility at the access point was good and would represent an improvement. He supported the retention of the hedge between the development and the A49.  He repeated his support for the provision of affordable housing.  He considered that there were a number of reasons why the site had not been considered in the Neighbourhood Plan.  The proposed development was sustainable.

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.

1.         A02 Time limit for submission of reserved matters (outline permission)

2.         A03 Time limit for commencement (outline permission)

3.         A04 Approval of reserved matters

4.         A05 Plans and particulars of reserved matters

5.         I20 Scheme of surface water drainage

6          Hedgerow retention along A49

INFORMATIVES:

1.               The Local Planning Authority has acted positively and proactively in determining this application by assessing the proposal against planning policy and any other material considerations. Negotiations in respect of matters of concern with the application (as originally submitted) have resulted in amendments to the proposal.  As a result, the Local Planning Authority has been able to grant planning permission for an acceptable proposal, in accordance with the presumption in favour of sustainable development, as set out within the National Planning Policy Framework.