Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Louis Busuttil and Louise Marston.

There were no substitutes present at the meeting. 

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 7 November 2018 (copy attached).

The minutes of the meeting held on 7 November 2018 were unanimously received by the Committee as an accurate record and were signed by the Chairman. 

Report No: DEV/FH/18/029

Planning Application - (i) 60no.bed Care Home for the Elderly including car park, bicycle, refuse and garden stores (ii) Alterations to vehicular and pedestrian access from Fordham Road (Demolition of existing house including associated swimming pool, outbuildings and hard-standing) (previous application DC/17/2676/FUL)

Planning Application - (i) 60no.bed Care Home for the Elderly including car park, bicycle, refuse and garden stores (ii) Alterations to vehicular and pedestrian access from Fordham Road (Demolition of existing house including associated swimming pool, outbuildings and hard-standing) (previous application DC/17/2676/FUL)

This application was referred to the Development Control Committee as Newmarket Town Council objected to the scheme which was contrary to the Officer recommendation of approval, subject to the completion of a Section 106 Agreement and conditions, as set out in Paragraph 123 of Report No DEV/FH/18/029.

Members were advised that the proposals in the application before them were for a revised scheme following the Committee’s decision to refuse planning permission for a similar scheme in June 2018.  The applicant had made some amendments to the development, as proposed, in order to address the reasons for refusal that were given by the Committee.

The Principal Planning Officer – Major Projects reminded Members that they had also determined a third application for the construction of retirement flats on the Kininvie site.  That application had proposed a building of a similar size and scale but in that case the Committee accepted the size of the building but subsequently refused planning permission for other reasons (absence of an agreed Section 106 Agreement).

As part of his presentation the Officer outlined the differences in sizes between the three schemes for the site, which had been set out in a table within the report.  However, a typographical error was pointed out to the Committee, in that the “current scheme’s” application number had been incorrectly written as DC/18/2676/FUL when it was DC/18/1912/FUL.

The Officer also drew attention to Paragraph 97 of the report which listed the distances between the proposed building and the boundary, and the proposed building and the existing neighbouring properties.

Lastly, reference was made to the nearby developments which had recently been approved at Nowell and Southernwood.

Speakers:    Mr Christopher Welsh (neighbouring resident) spoke against the application

                   Mr Steve Bucknell (agent) spoke in support of the application

Considerable discussion ensued, with a number of comments being made with regard to the perceived impact on the highway and the parking provision. 

In response to which, the Service Manager (Planning – Development) explained that the Highways Authority had not objected to the development hence, the Planning Authority did not have the evidence to substantiate a refusal for these reasons.

Councillor Ruth Bowman also remarked on the fact that as the application was for a care home, as opposed to ‘retirement living’ as per the application considered in 2017, the residents were unlikely to own cars which reduced the demand on parking. 

Councillor Bowman also spoke on the importance of care homes being located within residential settlements rather than on the fringes of towns/villages.

Lastly, Councillor Bowman also posed a question with regard to light pollution which had been raised by some of the neighbouring objectors.  In response the Principal Planning Officer – Major Projects explained that the condition which was included  ...  view the full minutes text for item 341.

Report No: DEV/FH/18/030

Outline Planning Application (All matters reserved) - Conversion of existing building (mixed use: Class D1 and Sui Generis) into 12no. apartments (Class C3) with associated external works, landscaping and parking

Outline Planning Application (All matters reserved) - Conversion of existing building (mixed use: Class D1 and Sui Generis) into 12no. apartments (Class C3) with associated external works, landscaping and parking

This application was referred to the Development Control Committee on 7 November 2018 in light of the Asset of Community Value (ACV) application that was made earlier in the year for the building and also due to the Newmarket Neighbourhood Plan (NNP) which was in the early stages of being drafted.

At that meeting Members resolved to approve the application, however, the reference to the required Section 106 Agreement had been omitted from the report’s recommendation.  Accordingly, the application was returned to the Committee to ensure that Members were aware of this obligation in respect of the application. 

A Member site visit was held prior to the November meeting.  Officers were continuing to recommend that the application be approved, subject to the completion of a Section 106 Agreement and conditions as set out in Paragraphs 10.1 and 11.0 of Report No DEV/FH/18/030.

Speaker:      Doctor Rachel Wood (Governor, All Saints Primary School) spoke against the application

The Senior Planning Officer drew attention to Paragraphs 8.42 and 11.0 and explained that the S106 obligation in respect of public open space, in both paragraphs, incorrectly referred to “on-site public open space” when it should have read “off-site”.

Councillor Simon Cole inquired as to whether Suffolk County Council had provided any further response in respect of the building’s usage since the last meeting of the Committee.

The Service Manager (Planning – Development) advised that no further correspondence had been received and it was not in the Planning Authority’s power to delay determination of the application.

Councillor Stephen Edwards moved that the application be approved, as per the Officer recommendation and inclusive of the amendment to the S106 obligation in respect of public open space.  This was duly seconded by Councillor David Bowman.

Upon being put to the vote and with the vote being unanimous, it was resolved that

Decision

Planning permission be GRANTED subject to:

The following conditions:

1.   Application for the approval of the matters reserved by conditions of this permission shall be made to the Local Planning Authority before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission.  The development hereby permitted shall be begun not later than whichever is the latest of the following dates:-

          i)       The expiration of three years from the date of this permission; or

          ii)       The expiration of two years from the final approval of the reserved matters; or,

          In the case of approval on different dates, the final approval of the last such matter to be approved.

2.   Prior to commencement of development the following components to deal with the risks associated with contamination of the site shall each be submitted to and approved, in writing, by the Local Planning Authority:

          i)       A site investigation scheme,

          ii)       The results of a site investigation based on i) and a detailed       risk assessment,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 342.