Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Louis Busuttil, Roger Dicker and Brian Harvey.

There were no substitutes present at the meeting.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 5 September 2018 (copy attached).

Councillor Peter Ridgwell drew attention to Minute No 323. and stated that he believed he had spoken on the item in question but the minutes did not reflect this.

The Democratic Services Officer agreed to check the notes and recording of the meeting and would respond to the Councillor directly on this matter.

The minutes of the meeting held on 5 September 2018 were then received by the Committee as an accurate record, with 10 voting for the motion and with 1 abstention, and were signed by the Chairman.

Report No: DEV/FH/18/022

Reserved Matters Application - Submission of details under Outline Planning Permission - DC/14/0585/OUT - Appeal ref - AP/15/0030/REF - the appearance, landscaping, layout and scale for 20-box racehorse training establishment (with associated Trainer's house) and up to 63 no. dwellings (including 19 no. affordable units) with associated access arrangements and open space provision

Reserved Matters Application - Submission of details under Outline Planning Permission - DC/14/0585/OUT - Appeal ref - AP/15/0030/REF - the appearance, landscaping, layout and scale for 20-box racehorse training establishment (with associated Trainer's house) and up to 63 no. dwellings (including 19 no. affordable units) with associated access arrangements and open space provision

This application was referred to the Development Control Committee by the local Ward Member (Councillor Roger Dicker – South Ward) due to the importance of the site to the village and the local interest in the application.

Members were advised that this reserved matters application followed the grant of outline permission (with all matters reserved apart from access) at appeal for a racehorse training establishment and the erection of up to 63 dwellings.

During the course of the application amendments had been made to the scheme; including the introduction of the affordable housing required by the outline and the inclusion of an equipped area of play, along with changes to the design and layout and submission of additional supporting information.

A Member site visit was held prior to the meeting.  Officers were recommending that the reserved matters consent be granted, subject to conditions as set out in Paragraph 11.75 of Report No DEV/FH/18/022 (the precise wording of which was to be delegated to Officers).

As part of her presentation, the Principal Planning Officer advised the Committee of the following updates since publication of the agenda:

·         Further comments had been received from Kentford Parish Council, largely echoing their earlier representations and citing particular concern with the proximity of the development to the existing properties at Meddler Gardens;

·         A further representation had been received from 1 Meddler Gardens reiterating their previous representation with regard to the impact the development would have on their residential amenity;

·         Further to the comments summarised in Paragraph 5.12 of the report, Suffolk County Council Archaeology had since confirmed that their concerns had been addressed and they had removed their objections to the scheme;

·         Further discussion had taken place with the Jockey Club with regard to the equipped area of play which would require an appropriate landscaped ‘buffer’ to separate it from the adjacent training area; and

·         All required ecology reports had been received and Officers were content that the appropriate mitigation and enhancement could be managed via relevant conditions.

The Officer reminded Members that the access to the site had been approved as part of the outline permission.  However, Suffolk County Council Highways had raised concerns with the internal layout of the development.  Hence, the applicant undertook amendments to this and the proposed scheme now met with the Highways Authority’s guidance in this respect.

Speakers:    Mr Garry Coupland (neighbouring resident) spoke against the application

                   Councillor Malcolm Baker (Chairman, Kentford Parish Council) spoke against the application

                   Mr Ian Reilly (agent) spoke in support of the application

A number of Members made comment on the application and voiced varied concerns in relation to:

·         The appropriateness and viability of the racehorse training element;

·         The design and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 327.