Agenda for Development Control Committee on Wednesday 18 November 2020, 10.00 am

Agenda and minutes

Venue: To be held remotely via video conferencing facilities (Microsoft TeamsLive)

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

Note: The link to view the live stream of the meeting is shown in 'Media' below together with a supporting guidance document. The Public Speaking Protocol for remotely held Development Control Committees can also be found under 'Media' below 

Media

Items
No. Item

74.

Welcome

Minutes:

The Chair formally commenced the meeting and jointly welcomed all present and those externally viewing the Development Control Committee.

 

A number of housekeeping matters and remote meeting guidance were highlighted to all.

 

75.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

No apologies for absence were received.

76.

Substitutes

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

Minutes:

No substitutions were declared.

 

The Democratic Services Officer verbally outlined all Members of the Committee who were present, together with any attending Councillors and the names of the Officers supporting the meeting.

77.

Declarations of interest

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any pecuniary or local non pecuniary interest which they have in any item of business on the agenda, no later than when that item is reached and, when appropriate, to leave the meeting prior to discussion and voting on the item.

Minutes:

Members’ declarations of interest are recorded under the item to which the declaration relates.

78.

Planning Application DC/20/0615/RM - Land North of Ann Suckling Road, Little Wratting (Report No: DEV/WS/20/052) pdf icon PDF 339 KB

Report No: DEV/WS/20/052

 

Reserved Matters Application -Submission of details under SE/09/1283 - the means of access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale for the construction of 41 dwellings with associated private amenity space, means of enclosure, car parking, vehicle and access arrangement and drainage together with proposed areas of landscaping and areas of open space for a residential development known as Phase 2A

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Reserved Matters Application -Submission of details under SE/09/1283 - the means of access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale for the construction of 41 dwellings with associated private amenity space, means of enclosure, car parking, vehicle and access arrangement and drainage together with proposed areas of landscaping and areas of open space for a residential development known as Phase 2A

 

This application was referred to the Development Control Committee following a call-in from the local Ward Member Councillor Joe Mason (Haverhill North).

 

In addition, Haverhill Town Council objected to the application which was in conflict with the Officer’s recommendation for approval subject to the receipt of an acceptable noise assessment and conditions, as set out in Paragraph 9.0 of Report No DEV/WS/20/052.

 

Members were advised that the application related to part of the wider North West Haverhill site, one of the two strategic growth sites for Haverhill identified in the adopted Core Strategy. It sought approval of the details for part of the second phase of residential development.

 

The Committee were informed that the site had been the subject of significant public engagement through the preparation and adoption of a concept statement and a masterplan. Outline planning permission was granted on 27 March 2015 for residential development, a primary school, local centre including retail and community uses, public open space, landscaping infrastructure, servicing and other associated works alongside full permission for the construction of a relief road.

 

The Principal Planning Officer explained that the application had initially sought approval for all the dwellings in phase two. However, during the course of the application, the dwellings in the southern half of the phase were removed and the red line was reduced in size to allow further work to take place on the southern parcel (phase 2b) to improve its character, layout and appearance before the submission of a new reserved matters application.

 

The remaining northern parcel (phase 2a) had, therefore, been amended to address concerns with the layout, house types, landscaping, and highways. The site included a section of highway connecting the parcel to the approved road network within phase one and a strip of land connecting to a proposed drainage basin to the south, which would serve all of phase two.

 

As part of her presentation the Principal Planning Officer made reference to the supplementary ‘late papers’ which had been circulated following publication of the agenda.

 

Lastly, reference was made to a separate ongoing enforcement matter in connection with the application site which, the Committee was reminded, was not a material planning consideration for the determination of the application.

 

Speakers:    Anne & Brad Strachen (neighbouring resident objectors) spoke against the application

                   Councillor Joe Mason (Ward Member: Haverhill North) spoke against the application

                   Stuart McAdam (Applicant – Persimmon Homes) spoke in support of the application

(All parties listed did not connect to the meeting to personally address the Committee and the Democratic Services Officer read out pre-prepared submitted statements on their behalf)

 

Considerable debate ensued with a number of comments/questions raised by Members  ...  view the full minutes text for item 78.

79.

Planning Application DC/20/1222/HH - 31 Acacia Avenue, Bury St Edmunds (Report No: DEV/WS/20/053) pdf icon PDF 181 KB

Report No: DEV/WS/20/053

 

Householder planning application - Single storey detached annexe. As amended by plans received 01 October 2020 and 06 October 2020

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Householder planning application - Single storey detached annexe. As amended by plans received 01 October 2020 and 06 October 2020

 

This application was referred to the Development Control Committee following consideration by the Delegation Panel on 3 November 2020.

 

It was presented to the Delegation Panel due to the objection from Bury St Edmunds Town Council which was in conflict with the Officer recommendation of approval, subject to conditions as set out in Paragraph 43 of Report No DEV/WS/20/053.

 

As part of his presentation the Planning Officer outlined the Permitted Development ‘fallback’ position and provided videos of the site by way of a virtual ‘site visit’.

 

Speakers:    John Brabrook (neighbouring resident objector) spoke against the application (Mr Brabrook did not connect to the meeting to personally address the Committee and instead opted to have the Democratic Services Officer read out a pre-prepared submitted statement on his behalf)

Councillor Kevin Hind (Bury St Edmunds Town Council) spoke against the application

Michaela Cooper (applicant) spoke in support of the application

 

During the debate a number of questions were posed with regard to the parking provision. 

 

In response, the Planning Officer explained that whilst the scheme resulted in a technical under-provision of parking, Suffolk County Council Highways had not objected as there was on-street parking available at Acacia Avenue and they did not consider that approval of the application would lead to any material harm to highway or pedestrian safety.

 

Councillor Ian Houlder proposed that the application be approved, as per the Officer recommendation, and this was duly seconded by Councillor Richard Alecock.

 

Upon being put to the vote and with 15 voting for the motion and 1 against, 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 three 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.   The use shall not commence until the area within the site shown on Drawing No. 087-20/P/01 Rev A for the purposes of manoeuvring and parking of vehicles has been provided and thereafter that area shall be retained and used for no other purposes.

4.   The extension/annex hereby permitted shall be occupied only in conjunction with and for purposes ancillary to the residential use of the existing dwelling known as 31 Acacia Avenue to which it is associated and together they shall form a single dwelling house.

80.

Planning Application DC/20/1063/HH - 60 The Street, Barton Mills (Report No: DEV/WS/20/054) pdf icon PDF 172 KB

Report No: DEV/WS/20/054

 

Householder Planning Application - (i) Garage (ii) vehicular driveway improvements

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Householder Planning Application - (i) Garage (ii) vehicular driveway improvements

 

This application was referred to the Development Control Committee following consideration by the Delegation Panel on 20 October 2020.

 

It was presented to the Delegation Panel due to the support from the Parish Council which was in conflict with the Officer’s recommendation of refusal, for the reason set out in Paragraph 41 of Report No DEV/WS/20/054.

 

As part of her presentation to the Committee the Planning Officer drew attention to the supplementary ‘late papers’ that had been issued since publication of the agenda and presented videos of the site by way of a virtual ‘site visit’.

 

Speakers:    Councillor Brian Harvey (Ward Member: Manor) spoke in support of the application

                   Les Belsberg (applicant) spoke in support of the application (by way of a pre-recorded audio file)

 

Councillor David Roach spoke in support of the application which he considered not to be in conflict with polices CS5, DM2, DM17 and DM24 and would not create an adverse impact on the Conservation Area.

 

Accordingly, he proposed that the application be approved, contrary to the Officer recommendation, and this was duly seconded by Councillor John Burns.

 

The Service Manager (Planning – Development) addressed the meeting and reminded the Committee that the support from the community for the proposal was not a material planning consideration.

 

On the basis of the reasons given by Councillor Roach for approving the application she also advised that the proposal would not be ‘minded to’ and the Decision Making Protocol would not be invoked in this instance.

 

Following which, the Planning Officer verbally outlined the conditions that could be appended to a planning permission, if granted.

 

(Prior to taking a vote on this item Councillor Peter Stevens raised a query with regard to the recorded vote process which the Service Manager – Democratic Services responded to.)

 

Upon being put to the vote and with 8 voting for the motion and 8 against, the Chair exercised his casting vote against and the motion for approval was therefore lost.

 

Councillor Roger Dicker then proposed that the application be refused, as per the Officer recommendation, and this was duly seconded by Councillor Don Waldron.

 

Upon being put to the vote and with 9 voting for the motion and 7 against it was resolved that

 

Decision

 

Planning permission be REFUSED for the following reason:

 

  1. The pattern of development in this particular part of the conservation area comprises of large, detached properties that are set back from the highway with large front gardens which offer a sense of openness. This spaciousness is considered to contribute to the special character and appearance of the area. The proposed garage is considered to be a large, bulky and visually prominent addition that will compromise the open character of this part of the conservation area. The proposed garage is considered to be in material conflict with policy CS5 of the Core Strategy, policies DM2, DM17 and DM24 of the Joint Development Management Policies Document, and the advice contained within  ...  view the full minutes text for item 80.

81.

Planning Application DC/20/1074/OUT - Proposed Dwelling, 9 Glebe Close, Ingham (Report No: DEV/WS/20/055) pdf icon PDF 350 KB

Report No: DEV/WS/20/055

 

Outline Planning Application (all matters reserved) - 1no. dwelling (previous application DC/19/1273/OUT)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

(Councillor Susan Glossop addressed the meeting as Ward Member for the application and stressed that she would keep an open mind and listen to the debate prior to voting on the item.)

 

Outline Planning Application (all matters reserved) - 1no. dwelling (previous application DC/19/1273/OUT)

 

This application was referred to the Development Control Committee following consideration by the Delegation Panel on 3 November 2020.

 

It was presented to the Delegation Panel following a call-in from the Ward Member (Ingham) Councillor Susan Glossop and in light of the objection from Ingham Parish Council which was in conflict with the Officer’s recommendation of approval, subject to conditions as set out in Paragraph 55 of Report No DEV/WS/20/055.

 

As part of his presentation the Planning Officer outlined the planning history of the site and related appeal position and provided videos of the site by way of a virtual ‘site visit’.

 

Speakers:    Hannah Ellis (neighbouring resident objector) spoke against the application

                   Councillor Adrian Dawson (Ingham Parish Council) spoke against the application (by way of a pre-recorded audio file)

 

Councillor Ian Houlder proposed that the application be approved, as per the Officer recommendation and this was duly seconded by Councillor Roger Dicker.

 

Upon being put to the vote and with 8 voting for the motion and 8 against the Chair exercised his casting vote in favour and 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 details of the access, appearance, landscaping, layout, and scale (hereinafter called "the reserved matters") shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The development shall be carried out as approved.
  3. The development hereby permitted shall not be carried out except in complete accordance with the details shown on the approved plans and documents.
  4. Prior to first occupation, all dwellings with off street parking shall be provided with an operational electric vehicle charge point at reasonably and practicably accessible locations, with an electric supply to the charge point capable of providing a 7kW charge.
  5. The dwelling hereby approved shall not be occupied until the optional requirement for water consumption (110 litres use per person per day) in part G of the Building Regulations has been complied with and evidence of compliance has been obtained.
  6. Prior to the dwelling hereby permitted being first occupied, the vehicular accesses onto the highway for the proposed dwelling  ...  view the full minutes text for item 81.

 

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