Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Ivor Mclatchy.

Any Member who is substituting for another Member should so indicate together with the name of the relevant absent Member.

Councillor Betty Mclatchy attended the meeting as substitute for Councillor Ivor Mclatchy.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 2 February 2017  (copy attached).

The minutes of the meeting held on 2 February 2017 were confirmed as a correct record and were signed by the Chairman.

(Means of access to be considered)

Residential development of up to 2,500 units (within Use Classes C2/C3), two primary schools, two local centres including retail, community and employment uses (within Use Classes A1/A2/A3/A4/A5, B1 and D1/D2), open space, landscaping and associated infrastructure at Great Wilsey Park, Wilsey Road, Little Wratting/ Kedington/ Haverhill for  Mrs H J  Pelly and Hallam Land Management Limited.

Report   DEV/SE/17/11

Outline Planning Application (Means of Access to be considered) - Residential development of up to 2,500 units (within Use Classes C2/C3); two primary schools; two local centres including retail, community and employment uses (with Use Classes A1/A2/A3/A4/A5, B1 and D1/D2; open space; landscaping and associated infrastructure.

This application was referred to the Development Control Committee as it was considered to have Borough-wide significance.  It was the second of two strategic growth sites for Haverhill as identified in the adopted Core Strategy.

The site had been the subject of significant public engagement through the preparation and adoption of a Concept Statement and a Masterplan; the Masterplan having addressed many issues including the distribution of land uses.

The development proposal was considered to comply with the relevant policies of the development plan and the National Planning Policy Framework and was considered to be acceptable in all other material respects. 

Accordingly, Officers were recommending that the application be approved, subject to the completion of a Section 106 Agreement and relevant conditions as set out in Paragraph 135 of Report No: DEV/SE/17/011.  A Member site visit was held prior to the meeting.

The Principal Planning Officer – Major Projects reminded Members that the principle of development was not up for debate as a robust process had already taken place in that respect as part of the Masterplan development.  He also highlighted the fact that the development site spanned three Parishes, these being; Haverhill, Little Wratting and Kedington.

As part of his presentation the Officer drew attention to the following updates/corrections:

·         Paragraph 93 of the report contained an error; the sentence: “At present, the area to the west of the moat…” should read ‘east of the moat’;

·         Paragraph 94 of the report contained an error; the sentence: “The impact of development to the north east…” should read ‘north west’;

·         The map attached at Page 83 of the agenda had been included within the papers in error, and was to be disregarded, as it showed a third access onto the development site which was not part of the application before Members;

·         Reference was made to an emailed representation from resident Ian Johnson, received since publication of the agenda and which had been circulated to all Members of the Committee;

·         In reference to the comments made by Kedington Parish Council, as set out in Paragraph 29 of the report, the Officer clarified that three-storey housing would be restricted in sensitive areas of the site, not over the entire development;

As part of the Officer presentation the Committee were advised that access to the Country Park was included as part of the proposed scheme before them, in order to facilitate access to this facility prior to future development coming forward for the east of the site.

Members’ attention was also drawn to the footpath that was to be upgraded to a cycle path in order to provide a sustainable, improved link between Haverhilll and Kedington.  The path would be laid with a sealed surface  ...  view the full minutes text for item 297.

(Means of access to be considered)

Parking facility for approximately 100 Heavy Goods Vehicles with refuelling station, shop and facilities for drivers at Proposed Truck Stop, adjacent to the road from A14 to C629, Risby ( within the parish of The Saxhams) for George J Gittus and Sons.

Report    DEV/SE/17/12

Outline Planning Application (Means of Access to be considered) – Parking facility for approximately 100 no. HGV’s with refuelling station, shop and facilities for drivers.

This application had been referred to the Development Control Committee because it was a major application and the Parish Council objected, contrary to the Officer recommendation of approval as set out in Paragraph 54 of Report No: DEV/SE/17/012.

Furthermore, when the agenda was published the recommendation was provisional in view of Highways England having issued a Holding Direction in respect of the application.

A Member site visit was held prior to the meeting.

As part of his presentation the Principal Planning Officer drew attention to the following updates:

·         Highways England had now formally removed their Holding Notice and confirmed that they had no objection to the application subject to mitigating conditions; and

·         Two further conditions were to be added to those listed in the report’s recommendation in respect of: badger sets and silage details.

The Officer went through each of the issues considered in determining the application; in order to explain to the Committee how Officers came to their balanced recommendation of approval.

Speakers:    Councillor Susan Glossop (Ward Member*) spoke on the application.  She also stressed that she would keep an open mind and listen to the debate prior to voting on the item.

(*whilst the application fell within the Ward of Barrow it was considered to impact more on the Ward of Risby, accordingly Councillor Ian Houlder had sacrificed his speaking slot to Councillor Glossop as the Ward Member for Risby)

                   Edward Keymer (agent) spoke in support of the application

During Councillor Glossop’s speech to the Committee she asked if it would be possible to include signage, as part of the development, to direct lorries on the A14 eastbound to continue to the Westley roundabout in order to turn around and re-join the A14, therefore enabling them to leave the dual carriageway on the westbound side and reducing the amount of HGVs travelling through Risby village.

The Committee as a whole supported this proposal.  The agent for the application was invited to respond to this request by the Chairman and he indicated that his applicant would be happy to work with the Planning Authority on this.

The Acting Head of Planning explained that if Members granted her Delegated Authority, in consultation with the Committee Chairman and relevant Ward Members, she could pursue this Suffolk County Council Highways via formal re-consultation on the proposal.

A number of other comments were made in respect of mitigating light pollution and litter, the Acting Head of Planning explained that these elements could be managed by additional conditions.

It was proposed by Councillor Peter Stevens that the application be granted, as per the Officer recommendation, inclusive of the additional conditions and Delegated Authority in respect of signage.  This was duly seconded by Councillor Robert Everitt.

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

Decision

Outline planning permission be GRANTED  ...  view the full minutes text for item 298.