Issue - meetings

Outline application (all matters reserved except means of access) for the redevelopment (including demolition) of the site for up to 950 residential units (including affordable housing) with a new Neighbourhood Centre comprising a local healthcare facility of up to 1500sqm NIA and up to 700sqm GFA for use classes E(a) (shops), E(b) (food and drink) and/or a Class F.2 community centre; a 2.1ha site for a new primary school; and associated roads, open space, drainage, landscaping and other associated infrastructure.

For the public record and in the interests of transparency, the Committee Services Manager (IF) stated that he was a resident living in the near vicinity to this application site. He confirmed that he had played no active part in the processing of this application in either his professional capacity as an Officer of the Council or in his private capacity as a resident of St. John's Road.

The Committee was told that at a Planning Committee meeting held on 7 June 2022 Members had resolved that planning permission be granted for the development referred to in the application, subject to a 6-month time limit (from the June 2022 resolution) to allow the completion of a legal agreement under the provisions of section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and dealing with the matters set out under paragraph 1.10 of the Officer report.

Members were informed that the agreement had taken significantly longer than anticipated, primarily due to unresolved matters between Essex County Council (ECC) Highways in respect of a Travel Plan Monitoring Fee, areas of dispute between the Developer and ECC Education as well as legal and site value implications in respect of an overaged clause. All those matters had now been satisfactorily resolved and had been confirmed in writing by all respective signatories to the legal agreement. The latest draft section 106 legal agreement was now ready to be signed by all parties. The Committee was told at the meeting by way of confirmation that the Section 106 had agreed and confirmed by all signatories.

Officers told the Committee that, as it had been over 6 months since the Planning Committee’s original resolution, and following legal advice, it was necessary for the application to revert to Members for consideration, and specifically to seek authority from the Planning Committee to issue the outline consent now that the section 106 legal agreement was ready for engrossment.

The Committee had before it the published Officer report containing the key planning issues, relevant planning policies, planning history, any response from consultees, written representations received and a recommendation of approval.

At the meeting, an oral presentation was made by the Council’s Planning Team Leader (JJ) in respect of the application.

There had been no Officer updates circulated to the Committee prior to the meeting on this application.

Stuart Willsher, the applicant’s representative, spoke in support of the application.