Agenda for St Edmundsbury Development Control Committee on Thursday 3 August 2017, 10.00 am

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Conference Chamber, West Suffolk House, Western Way, Bury St Edmunds IP33 3YU

Contact: Helen Hardinge  Email: helen.hardinge@westsuffolk.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

335.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Robert Everitt, Paula Fox and Julia Wakelam.

336.

Substitutes

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

Minutes:

Councillor Frank Warby attended the meeting as substitute for Councillor Paula Fox.

337.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 271 KB

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 6 July 2017 (copy attached).

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 6 July 2017 were confirmed as a correct record and were signed by the Chairman.

338.

Chairman's Announcement

Minutes:

Prior to commencing consideration of the substantive items of business on the agenda; the Chairman advised all present that the Service Manager (Planning – Development) would be delivering a briefing to the Committee on conclusion of the meeting on the development control service. 

339.

Planning Application DC/17/1006/RM - Land East of Moreton Hall, Mount Road, Bury St Edmunds (Report No: DEV/SE/17/032) pdf icon PDF 167 KB

Report No: DEV/SE/17/032

 

Reserved Matters Application - Submission of details under DC/14/1881/HYB for details of access, scale, layout, appearance and landscaping for Development Phase 2 for 80 no. dwellings including 30% affordable housing, associated open space and infrastructure.  Including Details Reserved by Conditions A7, A13, A14, A15, A16, A17, A19, A20, A21, A23, A24, A25, A28, A29, A30 and A35 of application DC/14/1881/HYB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Reserved Matters Application - Submission of details under DC/14/1881/HYB for details of access, scale, layout, appearance and landscaping for Development Phase 2 for 80 no. dwellings including 30% affordable housing, associated open space and infrastructure.  Including Details Reserved by Conditions A7, A13, A14, A15, A16, A17, A19, A20, A21, A23, A24, A25, A28, A29, A30 and A35 of application DC/14/1881/HYB

 

This application was referred to the Development Control Committee as it was a major application and the adjoining Parish Council of Great Barton had raised objections which was contrary to the Officer recommendation of approval, subject to a condition, as set out in Paragraph 50 of Report No DEV/SE/17/032.

 

The Principal Planning Officer – Major Projects explained that the application before the Committee sought Reserved Matters (access, scale layout, appearance and landscaping) following the Hybrid planning application granted in October 2014.

 

The Officer reminded Members that the scheme before them was phase two of five and made reference to the overall Masterplan which had been adopted in February 2014.

 

As part of the Case Officer’s presentation, attention was drawn to the comments made by Great Barton Parish Council which primarily raised concern with the density of the scheme.  The Committee was assured that the properties within the application before them were equal, and in some cases larger than, the properties delivered within Phase One.

 

Lastly, Members were advised that Officers had worked closely with the applicant in respect of the landscaping, particularly in respect of the East boundary which was typically associated with Oak trees, and was pleased to inform the meeting that an agreement had been reached for five Oak trees to be delivered on that boundary as part of the scheme.

 

However, the Landscape and Ecology Officer had been unable to respond on the most recent set of landscape plans in time for those comments to be considered by the Committee.  Therefore, Officers were seeking an amendment to the recommendation to include Delegated Authority to seek comments from the Landscape & Ecology Officer in respect of the final set of landscape plans, and to subsequently approve the landscaping element of the scheme.

 

Speaker:      Mr Jordan Last (agent) spoke in support of the application

 

During discussion, questions were raised with regard to; the type and management of the trees to be included, the new roundabout and the comments made by the Suffolk Constabulary Secure by Design Officer.

 

In answering these questions the Case Officer clarified that:

·         Councillor Frank Warby’s comments with regard to the detritus created by cherry trees would be noted and passed onto the applicant;

·         Long-term management of the Oak trees and other vegetation had been considered within the landscaping plan;

·         The new roundabout would be adopted by Suffolk County Council Highways; and

·         Suffolk Constabulary Secure by Design Officer had made objections to earlier versions of the plan but these had all been addressed in subsequent amendments, hence, the Officer had no comments to make on the amended scheme.

 

Councillor David Nettleton praised the applicant for working so  ...  view the full minutes text for item 339.

340.

Planning Application DC/16/1050/FUL & Listed Building Consent Application 16/1051/LB - 6 Lower Baxter Street, Bury St Edmunds (Report No: DEV/SE/17/033) pdf icon PDF 195 KB

Report No: DEV/SE/17/033

 

Planning Application - (i) Conversion of existing offices on first and second floors to 3 no. apartments (ii) Three storey extension, with link building, to comprise of 2 no. apartments; and

Listed Building Consent - (i) Repairs and alterations to enable conversion of first and second floors to 3 no. apartments (ii) Three storey extension, with link building, to Northern elevation to form 2no. apartments.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Frank Warby declared a non pecuniary interest in this item as he had already considered the application as a Member of Bury St Edmunds Town Council's Planning Control Committee.  He indicated that he would not take part in the discussion and would refrain from voting thereon.

 

Planning Application - (i) Conversion of existing offices on first and second floors to 3 no. apartments (ii) Three storey extension, with link building, to comprise of 2 no. apartments

 

Listed Building Consent - (i) Repairs and alterations to enable conversion of first and second floors to 3 no. apartments (ii) Three storey extension, with link building, to Northern elevation to form 2no. apartments

 

The applications were originally referred to the Development Control Committee on 6 August 2017 due to the presence of two Member call-ins and in light of the level of public interest which raised balanced matters that Officers believed warranted consideration by the Committee.  A Member site visit was held prior to that meeting. 

 

Members raised a number of concerns in relation to the applications, principally in respect of; the impact on the residential amenity of neighbours (in terms of loss of light/outlook), the visual impact of the development in the town’s historic core and the provision of a deliverable scheme for managing waste on the site. 

 

In light of these concerns the Committee voted to defer the applications in order to enable Officers to work with the applicant to seek improvements to the scheme, where possible.

 

The Committee was reminded that the property concerned was a Grade II Listed building, hence, the proposed development was comprised of two applications to be jointly considered; a planning application and a listed building consent application.

 

As part of her presentation, the Senior Planning Officer outlined the modest changes that had been made to the planning application in order to address Members’ concerns.  Alongside amended plans, supplementary documentation had been submitted in the form of additional shadow plans and waste management clarification.

 

Bury St Edmunds Town Council continued to voice objection to the proposal.  Officers considered the scheme to be well designed and of high quality.  The degree of impact on neighbours was not considered to be significant and so, on balance, Officers were continuing to recommend that the applications be approved subject to conditions, as set out in Paragraph 60 of Working Paper 1 and Paragraph 33 of Report No DEV/SE/17/033.

 

Speakers:    Kyle Siftar (neighbour) spoke against the application

Councillor Tom Murray (Bury St Edmunds Town Council) spoke against the application

Mike Driver (agent) spoke in support of the application

 

The Senior Planning Officer explained that the Officer recommendation for approval was also subject to no objections being received from the National Amenities Societies and Historic England.  Since publication of the agenda Historic England had confirmed that they had no comments to make in respect of the revised plans.

 

During discussion, questions were raised with regard to; the material to be used for the cladding, vehicle movements on-site  ...  view the full minutes text for item 340.

341.

Planning Application DC/16/1268/FUL - Land North of Fentons Farm, Stanningfield Road, Great Whelnetham (Report No: DEV/SE/17/034) pdf icon PDF 214 KB

Report No: DEV/SE/17/034

 

Planning Application - 10no. dwellings with associated access, parking and landscaping - as amended by plans dated 28 April 2017

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Terry Clements declared a non-pecuniary interest in this application as a Life President of Havebury Housing Partnership (Havebury being the applicant), he remained in the meeting but abstained from voting on the item.

 

Planning Application - 10no. dwellings with associated access, parking and landscaping - as amended by plans dated 28 April 2017

 

This application was referred to the Development Control Committee as Great and Little Whelnetham raised objections which was contrary to the Officer recommendation of approval, subject to conditions, as set out in Paragraph 44 of Report No DEV/SE/17/034.

 

As part of his presentation the Principal Planning Officer drew attention to the site boundary, which had been shown slightly too wide on the East boundary on the site plan attached to the agenda.

 

Paragraphs 1 and 42 of the report were also highlighted in respect of the reference therein to the affordable dwellings to be included as part of the scheme.  Whilst both paragraphs referred to 4 dwellings the applicant had since amended the proposal to include 6 affordable dwellings.  The Committee was reminded that affordable housing units were not a planning requirement in respect of the proposal as it was only for 10 dwellings, furthermore, the inclusion of affordable housing was not a material planning consideration.

 

Speakers:    Councillor Terry Clements (Ward Member: Horringer and                              Welnetham) spoke against the application

                   Aoife O’Gorman (agent) spoke in support of the application

 

During discussion a number of Members made reference to the need for foot and cycle way links.  The Service Manager (Planning – Development) explained that Suffolk County Council Highways had not raised this as a S106 requirement, hence, the Planning Authority was not able to request funding from the development in this respect.

 

Councillor Peter Stevens moved that the application be approved, as per the Officer recommendation, and this was duly seconded by Councillor David Nettleton.

 

Upon being put to the vote and with 13 voting for the motion and with 1 abstention, it was resolved that

 

Decision

 

Planning permission be GRANTED subject to the following conditions:

 

1.  The development hereby permitted shall be begun not later than 3 years from the date of this permission.

2.  The development hereby permitted shall not be carried out except in complete accordance with the details shown on the approved plans and documents.

3.  No development shall commence beyond slab level until samples of the facing and roofing materials to be used have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

4.  No development shall take place until a surface water drainage scheme for the site, based on sustainable drainage principles and an assessment of the hydrological and hydro geological context of the development, has been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. The drainage strategy should demonstrate the surface water run-off generated up to and including the 100 year +CC storm will not exceed the run-off from the undeveloped site following the corresponding rainfall event. The scheme shall subsequently be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 341.

342.

Planning Application DC/17/0035/RM - Land Between 4 and 8 Norfolk Road, Bury St Edmunds (Report No: DEV/SE/17/035) pdf icon PDF 166 KB

Report No: DEV/SE/17/035

 

Reserved Matters Application - Submission of details under Outline Planning Permission DC/15/2245/OUT- the means of access, appearance, layout and scale for Plots 3 and 4.  As amended by amendment to Application Form received on 1 June 2017

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Frank Warby declared a non pecuniary interest in this item as he had already considered the application as a Member of Bury St Edmunds Town Council's Planning Control Committee.  He indicated that he would not take part in the discussion and would refrain from voting thereon, he therefore left the meeting at 12.04pm.

 

Reserved Matters Application - Submission of details under Outline Planning Permission DC/15/2245/OUT- the means of access, appearance, layout and scale for Plots 3 and 4.  As amended by amendment to Application Form received on 01 June 2017

 

This application was referred to the Development Control Committee in the interests of consistency as the original outline planning application (DC/15/2245/OUT) was considered by the Committee in February 2016.

 

Furthermore, Bury St Edmunds Town Council objected to the application and Councillor Diane Hind (Ward Member: Northgate) had raised concerns regarding the proposal.  Both of which were contrary to the Officer recommendation of approval, subject to conditions, as set out in Paragraph 31 of Report No DEV/SE/17/035.

 

The Senior Planning Officer highlighted that the application comprised the submission of details for Plots 3 and 4 of the scheme only.

 

Speakers:    Jeff Paine (neighbour) spoke against the application

                   Councillor Tom Murray (Bury St Edmunds Town Council)                              spoke against the application

                   John Mason (agent) spoke in support of the application

 

Councillor David Nettleton moved that the application be approved, as per the Officer recommendation, and this was duly seconded by Councillor Alaric Pugh.

 

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.   Approved plans to be adhered to.

2.   Materials to be agreed.

3.   First floor window in east elevation of Plot 4 and west elevation of Plot 3 to be obscure glazed.

4.   Restriction re: subsequent addition of windows above ground floor level in east elevation of Plot 4 and west elevation of Plot 3.

5.   Parking and turning areas and bin storage areas to be provided and retained.

6.   Construction works to only be carried out between the hours of 08:00 and 18:00 Mondays to Fridays and between the hours of 08:00 and 13:30 Saturdays and at no time on Sundays or Bank Holidays.

 

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