Agenda item

Report No: DEV/WS/19/015

Planning Application - 79 no. dwellings, a new vehicle access from Exning Road and public open space, together with associated external works including parking and landscaping

Planning Application - 79 no. dwellings, a new vehicle access from Exning Road and public open space, together with associated external works including parking and landscaping

This application had been referred to the Development Control Committee because the recommendation was both contrary to the Development Plan and the views of Newmarket Town Council.

A Member site visit was held prior to the meeting.

Supplementary ‘Late Papers’ had been circulated following publication of the agenda, which set out the fully worded conditions and gave further details with regard to the Newmarket Neighbourhood Plan which had reached examination stage.

Officers were recommending that the application be approved, subject to the conditions as set out in the Late Papers.

The Principal Planning Officer made reference to the following corrections to the report:

·         The primary school contribution set out in Paragraphs 91 and 112 should have read £351,648 (18 x £19,536 per place), as confirmed by Suffolk County Council and as made reference to in the Late Papers.

·         The tenure split of dwellings as listed in Paragraph 22 was incorrect; with the correct information being listed in Paragraph 88.

Speakers:    James Lay (public objector) spoke against the application

Councillor Rachel Hood (Mayor, Newmarket Town Council) spoke against the application

Neil Farnsworth (applicant) spoke in support of the application

(Prior to opening the debate, the Chair reminded Members to speak clearly into the microphones in order to allow the densely populated Public Gallery to hear all that was said.)

Councillor Andy Drummond advised the meeting that he had taken part in Newmarket Town Council’s consideration of the application in February 2019 when they resolved to oppose the scheme.  Furthermore, he had been quoted in the local press following the Town Council’s meeting.  However, Councillor Drummond stressed that he would keep an open mind and listen to the debate prior to voting on the item.

A number of questions/comments were made with regard to the emerging Site Allocations Local Plan (SALP) and the application site being related to the horseracing industry.

In response, the Service Manager (Planning – Development) explained that the SALP was at a very advanced stage in the plan preparation process and the Inspectorate had, subject to agreed modifications, declared it sound.  The SALP was due to be presented to West Suffolk’s Full Council meeting on 19 September 2019, seeking adoption.  Therefore, the emerging plan was considered to have almost full weight in the planning balance of the proposal.

The Service Manager also drew Members’ attention to the very clear statement in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) with regard to the weight to be attached to emerging plans that were at an advanced stage of preparation, without unresolved objections and the degree of consistency of the plan with the NPPF.

Further debate continued with the Committee positing other questions which were responded to by the Principal Planning Officer as follows:

Refuse – The location of refuse bins was illustrated to Members on a plan of the site;

Highways – the Officer reiterated that Suffolk County Council Highways Authority did not consider the scheme to have a severe impact on the highway network;

Current use of site – the Committee was advised that there were currently a very small number of horses on the application site which Officers understood were not in connection with the horseracing industry; and

Flooding – Members were informed that it may be necessary to re-word the condition in relation to Floods and Water, in liaison with Anglian Water, in order to reflect the required phasing of the development.

Councillor David Roach proposed that consideration of the application be deferred until such time as the Site Allocations Local Plan (SALP) for West Suffolk was formally adopted by the Authority.  This was duly seconded by Councillor Don Waldron.

Councillor John Burns raised concern at the lack of response from Suffolk County Council Highways Authority with regard to the garage sizes proposed for the development and asked if this could be picked up as part of the deferral of the application.  Both proposer and seconder of the motion were happy for this to be incorporated.

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

Decision

Consideration of the application be DEFERRED until such time as the Site Allocations Local Plan (SALP) for West Suffolk was formally adopted by the Authority and to allow additional time for Officers to seek a response from Suffolk County Council Highways Authority in respect of the garage sizes proposed within the scheme.

(Councillor Roger Dicker joined the meeting at 10.09am during the Principal Planning Officer’s presentation of this item.  Following his arrival the Lawyer advising the meeting informed Councillor Dicker that the Officer had informed the Committee during his absence of the inaccuracy in Paragraph 22 of the report; and drew attention to the correct figures in Paragraph 88.  Following which, the Solicitor advised Councillor Dicker that he was able to take part in the discussion and voting thereon.)

(On conclusion of this item the Chair invited any members of the public at the back of the Public Gallery, who were struggling to hear, to move forward to the available seats on the front row.)