Proposed re-plan of part of site to provide 21 additional smaller units increasing total from 210 approved to 231 (as alternative to part of planning permission 16/00031/OUT and 20/00303/DETAIL).

The Chairman of the Committee (Councillor Maria Fowler) informed the meeting that Councillors Bray and Placey would not be able to take part in the consideration of Item 7 of the Agenda due to them not attending the site visit or the Committee meeting held in August 2023 when the application in question had first been heard. However, they both would be able to remain in the meeting, as they had not declared an Interest.

Councillor Bray recused himself from this application and retired to the public gallery.

Members were reminded that, at the submission stage this application had been for an additional 24 homes and that after consultation with Essex Place services a decision had been made to keep some of the properties as 4 Bedroom Homes as it was felt from a placemaking perspective those, mostly corner, buildings needed to have a greater presence on the street scene. When those plots had reverted to larger properties the Architects drawings had not updated the plot numbering which had continued to show numbering up to 234, the error also was not obvious in the accommodation schedule as it only included part of the site.

The Committee heard that as a result of the above, the total dwellings proposed on site was in fact 231 (3 less than the scheme presented to Members in August 2023). The difference in dwelling numbers therefore result in the following changes:

-        The description of the development changed to:

“Proposed re-plan of part of site to provide 21 additional smaller units increasing total from 210 approved to 231 (as alternative to part of planning permission 16/00031/OUT and 20/00307/DETAIL).”

-        the uplift in dwelling numbers as a result of the replan scheme is 21 (instead of 24)

-        the number of affordable units that would be secured as part of the re-plan scheme equates to a total of 6 dwellings (as opposed to 7 reported to Committee in August 2023). Given that 21 additional dwellings were proposed, a total of 6 affordable units would equate to a proportionate 30% affordable housing contribution and the proposal continued to be in accordance with Policy LP5 of the adopted Local Plan.

-        as a result of the downward revision of the overall dwelling numbers by 3, the proportionate Health and Education contributions would continue to be required to mitigate against the impact of the development. Both the NHS and ECC Education have both been approached for comments and confirmation of the amounts required however at the time of writing the update report the comments remained outstanding.

Members were informed that, in conclusion, the reason to return this application to Committee was a matter of correction in terms of consistency and updating of the information presented to Members previously. That essentially confirmed the reduction of numbers compared to the initial application made that was before Members previously, but given the description changes it was appropriate to seek an updated resolution to ensure no risk of challenge against the decision-making process.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48