Agenda for Development Control Committee on Wednesday 7 July 2021, 10.00 am

Agenda and minutes

Venue: The Apex, Charter Square, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3FD

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

Note: A map and directions to the meeting venue is linked below // It is intended that the meeting will be broadcast live; information and how to access this is published below // Public speakers are directed to the Protcol document linked below 

Media

Items
No. Item

147.

Welcome

Minutes:

The Chair welcomed all present to the Development Control Committee and a number of housekeeping matters and guidance were highlighted to all.

 

The Committee was advised that it had not been possible for the minutes of the last meeting on 23 June 2021 to be appended due to the short stretch of time between the two meetings. These would therefore be included on the agenda for the subsequent meeting on 4 August 2021.

 

Lastly, the Chair informed Members that if Stage 4 of the Government’s road map was implemented on 19 July 2021 then the intention would be for the Committee’s August meeting to be held at West Suffolk House.

148.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Richard Alecock, Jason Crooks and Ian Houlder.

149.

Substitutes

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

Minutes:

The following substitutions were declared:

 

Councillor Andy Neal substituting for Councillor Richard Alecock; and

Councillor Brian Harvey substituting for Councillor Ian Houlder

150.

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.

151.

Planning Application DC/21/0110/RM - Land NW of Haverhill, Ann Suckling Road, Little Wratting (Report No: DEV/WS/21/022) pdf icon PDF 349 KB

Report No: DEV/WS/21/022

 

Reserved matters application - submission of details under outline planning permission SE/09/1283 - the means of access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale for the construction of 127 dwellings, together with associated private amenity space, means of enclosure, car parking, vehicle and access arrangements together with proposed areas of landscaping and areas of open space for a phase of residential development known as phase 2b as amended by plans received 14.5.21 increasing number of units to 129 and amendments to access, layout, scale, appearance and landscaping as summarised in covering letter dated 14.5.21

Additional documents:

Minutes:

(Councillors John Burns and David Smith each declared a non-pecuniary interest in this item in light of the fact that they had taken part in Haverhill Town Council’s consideration of the application.  However, they stressed that they would keep an open mind and listen to the debate prior to voting on the item.)

 

Reserved matters application - submission of details under outline planning permission SE/09/1283 - the means of access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale for the construction of 127 dwellings, together with associated private amenity space, means of enclosure, car parking, vehicle and access arrangements together with proposed areas of landscaping and areas of open space for a phase of residential development known as phase 2b as amended by plans received 14.5.21 increasing number of units to 129 and amendments to access, layout, scale, appearance and landscaping as summarised in covering letter dated 14.5.21

 

This application was referred to the Development Control Committee following call-in from Ward Member (Haverhill North) Councillor Joe Mason. In addition, the Town Council had voiced objections to the application.

 

The Principal Planning Officer explained that the application was part of the wider North West Haverhill site which was one of two strategic growth sites for Haverhill identified in the adopted Core Strategy. The application before the Committee sought approval of the details for part of the second phase of residential development.

 

Members were advised that the site had previously been the subject of a significant public engagement process through the preparation and adoption of a concept statement and 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 Officer clarified that phase 2 of the strategic site fell within two broad character areas defined in the approved Design Code; Wratting Gardens to the North (the character area for phase 1) and Boyton Place to the South which incorporated the local centre and was envisaged as being more contemporary in appearance.

 

The Southern part of phase 2 (known as phase 2b) was initially submitted with the Northern parcel in Planning Application DC/16/0215/RM. However, it was withdrawn from that application to enable further work to take place to improve its character, layout and appearance.

 

Attention was drawn to the supplementary ‘late papers’ which had been circulated after the agenda had been published and which set out the proposed conditions in detail. The Principal Planning Officer made reference to an error within the papers where it inaccurately referenced 127 dwellings, which had been increased to 129 units via amended plans.

 

Lastly, the Committee was informed that three further late public representations had been received since circulation of the late papers. The Officer read out a summary of the objections contained therein, all of which covered topics which had been previously covered by earlier representations and which were referenced within Report No DEV/WS/21/022.

 

Officers  ...  view the full minutes text for item 151.

152.

Planning Application DC/21/0623/FUL - Hillcrest Nursery, Barningham Road, Stanton (Report No: DEV/WS/21/023) pdf icon PDF 238 KB

Report No: DEV/WS/21/023

 

Planning application - one temporary static caravan for a period of three years

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

(Councillor Jim Thorndyke declared a non-pecuniary interest in this item in light of the fact that he was acquainted with the applicant.  However, he stressed that he would keep an open mind and listen to the debate prior to voting on the item.)

 

Planning application - one temporary static caravan for a period of three years

 

This application was referred to the Development Control Committee following consideration by the Delegation Panel and in view of the fact that the Parish Council did not object to the proposal which was in conflict with the Officers’ recommendation of refusal, for the reasons set out in Paragraph 53 of Report No DEV/WS/21/023.

 

As part of her presentation the Planning Officer showed videos of the site by way of a virtual ‘site visit’.

 

Attention was drawn to Paragraph 19 of the report which inaccurately stated that there were three housing settlement boundaries within Stanton, when there were actually four.

 

Speakers:    Councillor Jim Thorndyke (Ward Member: Stanton) spoke on the application

                   Jonny Rankin (agent) spoke in support of the application

 

In response to queries concerning the definition of a ‘key worker’ under Policy DM5, the Service Manager (Planning – Development) gave further explanation.

 

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

 

Upon being put to the vote and with 11 voting for the motion and 3 against, it was resolved that

 

Decision

 

Planning permission be REFUSED for the following reasons:

 

1.   The St Edmundsbury Core Strategy (2010) via CS13 states that development outside of housing settlements, defined in policies CS1 and CS4, will be strictly controlled, with residential development outside of the settlement boundaries being resisted. The Joint Development Management Policies Document (2015) further supports both the NPPF and Core Strategy through policies DM5 and DM27. DM5 states that areas designated as countryside will be protected from unsustainable development and policy DM27 sets out the strict circumstances where dwellings will be permitted outside of settlement boundaries. The site falls outside of any designated settlement boundaries, showing a dwelling in the form of a static caravan. The proposed dwelling does not front a highway or form an infill within a continuous built up frontage, nor will it form a close knit cluster of 10 or more dwellings. Policy DM26 is not relevant as the dwelling is not for an agricultural, forestry or commercial equine essential worker. The proposal does not therefore meet the provisions of any of these policies and there are no material considerations, including the applicant’s suggestions that the proposal be time limited and personal, that outweigh this very significant conflict with the Development Plan.

 

2.   Policies DM2 and DM22 of the Joint Development Management Policies Document and the NPPF attach great importance to good design, expecting new developments to be visually attractive, responding to local character and reinforcing local distinctiveness. Furthermore, policies CS2 and CS3 of the Core Strategy state that a high quality, sustainable environment will be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 152.

153.

Planning Application DC/21/0618/VAR - The Old Pumping Station, Lower Road, Hundon (Report No: DEV/WS/21/024) pdf icon PDF 205 KB

Report No: DEV/WS/21/024

 

Planning application - Variation of conditions 2, 3, 8, 9, 10 12, 13 and 17 of DC/20/0227/VAR to allow alternative drainage and the submission of details for the construction of a. three dwellings and associated garages; b. pedestrian link to public footpath; c. alterations to existing access

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Planning application - Variation of conditions 2, 3, 8, 9, 10 12, 13 and 17 of DC/20/0227/VAR to allow alternative drainage and the submission of details for the construction of a. three dwellings and associated garages; b. pedestrian link to public footpath; c. alterations to existing access

 

This application was referred to the Development Control Committee because the application was contrary to the Development Plan and was recommended for approval, subject to conditions as set out in Paragraph 50 of Report No DEV/WS/21/024.

 

The Senior Planning Officer explained that planning permission was granted under DC/19/1817/FUL for three dwellings at the Development Control Committee on 8 January 2020. The principle of development had therefore been established.

 

This was followed by a subsequent planning permission that sought to vary conditions No 2 (approved plans) and No 11 (soft landscaping) of DC/19/1817/FUL.

 

As part of her presentation the Officer explained that the applicant had requested that the proposed wording of condition No 8 be slightly amended from that which was set out in the report to aid clarity.

 

Speaker:      Michael Hendry (agent) spoke in support of the application

(Mr Hendry did not attend the meeting to personally address the Committee and instead the Democratic Services Officer read out a pre-prepared submitted statement on his behalf.)

 

Councillor David Roach proposed that the application be approved, as per the Officers’ recommendation, and this was duly seconded by Councillor Andy Drummond.

 

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       The development hereby permitted shall be begun not later than three years from the date planning permission DC/19/1817/FUL, 9 January 2023.

 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 occupation of any part of the permitted development shall take place until a verification report demonstrating completion of works as set out in the remediation strategy is submitted to and approved, in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

 4       If, during development, contamination not previously identified is found to be present at the site then no further development (unless otherwise agreed in writing with the Local Planning Authority) shall be carried out until the developer has submitted a remediation strategy to the Local Planning Authority detailing how this unsuspected contamination shall be dealt with and obtained written approval from the Local Planning Authority. The remediation strategy shall be implemented as approved.

 5       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. 

 6       Demolition or construction works shall not take place outside 8:00am hours to 6:00pm hours Mondays to Fridays and 8:00am hours to 1:30pm hours on Saturdays and at no time on Sundays, public holidays or bank holidays.

 7       The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 153.

154.

Planning Application DC/21/0946/CLP - West Suffolk House, Western Way, Bury St Edmunds (Report No: DEV/WS/21/025) pdf icon PDF 143 KB

Report No: DEV/WS/21/025

 

Application for a certificate of lawfulness for proposed use or development - extension to the existing sub-station building, reconfiguration of associated footpath and motorbike parking spaces

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Application for a certificate of lawfulness for proposed use or development - extension to the existing sub-station building, reconfiguration of associated footpath and motorbike parking spaces

 

This application was referred to the Development Control Committee because West Suffolk Council was the applicant.

 

The Planning Officer explained that the provision of a battery storage area was also originally included. However, this was intended to be installed on the existing car parking area of the site and this parking was required by condition on the substantive approval for West Suffolk House to be retained, meaning the battery storage element could not be classed as ‘permitted development’ under the relevant regulations.

 

As a consequence, the battery storage area was removed from the proposal and Officers were therefore recommending that a Certificate of Lawful Development was granted, as per the recommendation in Paragraph 14 of Report No DEV/WS/21/025.

 

Councillor John Burns proposed that the Officers’ recommendation be accepted and this was duly seconded by Councillor Andy Neal.

 

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

 

Decision

 

A Certificate of Lawful Development be GRANTED.

 

 

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