Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Rachel Hood.

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

The following substitution was declared:

Councillor Andy Drummond substituting for Councillor Rachel Hood

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 4 October 2023 (copy attached).

The minutes of the meeting held on 4 October 2023 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair, subject to the following typographical correction:

384.      Planning Application DC/23/0719/FUL - Chels, 51A Bury Road, Newmarket (Report No: DEV/WS/23/030)

The Service Manager (Planning – Development) suggested that an informative could be attended appended to a permission to provide clarification.

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any disclosable pecuniary interest, other registerable or non-registrable 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.

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

Report No: DEV/WS/23/035

Reserved Matters Application - Submission of details approved under Outline Planning Permission F/2013/0394/OUT the access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale for 139 dwellings and associated works, including details in relation to condition 3 and 11 of F/2013/0394/OUT

(Councillor Jon London declared, in the interests of openness and transparency, that he had family members who lived quite closely to the application site. However, this would have no bearing on his consideration of the application.)

Reserved Matters Application - Submission of details approved under Outline Planning Permission F/2013/0394/OUT the access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale for 139 dwellings and associated works, including details in relation to condition 3 and 11 of F/2013/0394/OUT

This application was referred to the Development Control Committee following consideration by the Delegation Panel on 4 October 2022.

This application followed outline planning permission for the construction of up to 140 dwellings at the site granted in October 2018 and sought approval of matters reserved by condition 2 of the outline planning permission.

The Committee was advised that the proposal description for the application was amended to include ‘access’. This was because only the two access points from the highway into the site had been considered and approved at outline stage, whilst all other access matters remained reserved.

The Principal Planning Officer explained that there had not been re-consultation on the description change, because there had been no changes to any of the plans or supporting documents as a result, which have been subject to public consultations. The description change is a technical modification only.

The application had been submitted within three years as was required by Condition 1 of the outline planning permission. Report No DEV/WS/23/035 related to the requirements of Condition 2 of planning permission F/2013/0394/OUT and the details required to be submitted with the reserved matters by Conditions 3 (additional details) and 11 (travel plan) of the outline permission. The decision notice for the outline permission was attached as Working Paper 1.

Lastly, the Principal Planning Officer informed the meeting that the developer contributions towards off-site provisions of children’s play space and equipment was confirmed as £85,020.

A Member site visit was held prior to the meeting. Officers were recommending that the reserved matters be approved, subject to the completion of a Deed of Variation (in respect of the S106 Agreement), a legal agreement to secure the off-setting measures in perpetuity, and the conditions as set out in Paragraph 130 of the report.

Speaker:      Stuart McAdam (applicant, Persimmon Homes) spoke in support of the application

A number of varied questions were posed during the initial debate which the Principal Planning Officer responded to as follows:

Parking standards: whilst there was shortfall within the scheme, Suffolk County Council Highways had considered the proposal acceptable;

Acoustic mitigation: the Committee was advised that conditions to control this had been included in the outline stage of the application;

Affordable housing: the Council’s Housing Team were content with the distribution of the affordable housing in the scheme, as proposed;

Wildflower garden: the management of this element would be covered within the landscape strategy;

Traffic calming: the Committee was advised that three raised tables would be included within the scheme to help reduce  ...  view the full minutes text for item 393.

Report No: DEV/WS/23/036

Application for advertisement consent - a. one internally illuminated fascia sign b. two non-illuminated window graphics 3. one non-illuminated customer board d. one internally illuminated totem

Application for advertisement consent - a. one internally illuminated fascia sign b. two non-illuminated window graphics 3. one non-illuminated customer board d. one internally illuminated totem

This application was referred to the Development Control Committee following consideration at the Delegation Panel on 10 October 2023. It was presented to the Delegation Panel at the request of the Ward Member.

Attention was drawn to the supplementary ‘late papers’ which had been issued following publication of the agenda and which set out a further neighbour objection to the proposal together with an expanded reason for the refusal part of the recommendation.

A Member site visit was held prior to the meeting. Officers were recommending a split decision; with advertisement consent only granted for the two non-illuminated window graphics and one non-illuminated customer board, subject to the condition set out in Paragraph 51 of Report No DEV/WS/23/036. And with refusal recommended in respect of the internally illuminated fascia sign and the internally illuminated totem sign, for the reason set out in the supplementary late papers.

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

                   Joel Mattless (applicant – The Cooperative) spoke in support of the application

Councillor Andy Drummond proposed the split decision as per the Officer recommendation and this was duly seconded by Councillor Marilyn Sayer.

During further debate a number of the Committee referenced the detrimental impact the totem sign could have on residential amenity but voiced support for the illuminated fascia sign.

Accordingly, as the Committee largely seemed to accord in respect of the fascia sign, the Chair sought the approval of the proposer and seconder of the motion to amend their proposal to grant advertisement consent for the internally illuminated fascia sign (and only to refuse the totem sign).

Upon being put to the vote and with 14 voting for the motion and with 2 abstentions, it was resolved that

Decision

Advertisement Consent be GRANTED for the two non-illuminated window graphics, one non-illuminated customer board and one internally illuminated fascia sign, subject to the following conditions:

1.   The development hereby permitted shall not be carried out except in complete accordance with the details shown on the approved plans and documents, unless otherwise stated.

2.   The maximum luminance from the internally illuminated signs shall not exceed 600 candela/m2.

3.   The illuminated advertisement hereby approved by this consent shall only be illuminated between 7am and 10pm. Outside of these hours, the advertisements shall not be illuminated in any way.

And, Advertisement Consent be REFUSED for the one internally illuminated totem sign for the following reason:

1.   Policy DM17 applies in relation to all proposals within, adjacent to or visible from a Conservation Area, and states that new shop fronts, fascias, awnings, canopies, advertisements and other alterations to commercial premises must be of a high standard of design which respects the character of the Conservation Area and the building to which they relate. Standardised shop fronts, unsympathetic ‘house’ signs, projecting box signs, internally illuminated signs and externally  ...  view the full minutes text for item 394.