Submission of details under Outline Planning Permission 17/01229/OUT – considering appearance, landscaping, layout and scale for residential phases one and two for 417 no. dwellings, open space, principle spine road linking St John’s Road to Jaywick Lane and associated ancillary works.

Earlier on in the meeting as reported under Minute 32 above, Councillor Goldman had declared for the public record that he lived near the application site, and that he therefore would not participate in the Committee’s deliberations and decision making for this application. Councillor Goldman therefore left the room at this juncture.

The Committee heard that this application sought approval for the Reserved Matters relating to appearance, landscaping, layout, and scale for residential phases one and two, comprising 417 dwellings. Phases one and two formed part of a larger site that was a strategic allocation which already benefited from outline planning consent for its redevelopment to provide up to 950 residential units. The above mentioned outline consent (reference number 17/01229/OUT) also included 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 F.2 (community centre); a 2.1ha site for a new primary school – those elements did not form part of the reserved matters application the subject of this Officer report.

Members were told that the application was in front of Members at the discretion of the Head of Planning and Building Control because the site was of major strategic importance for the Strategic Urban Settlement of Clacton-on-Sea.

The Committee was informed that the submission followed statutory consultations and discussions between the Local Planning Authority (LPA), the applicant and other stakeholders such as Essex County Council Highways and Education, resulting in revisions to address concerns raised by local objectors, planning officers and consultees.

The Committee was made aware that the key elements of the approved outline consent, including primary access from both St Johns Road and Jaywick Lane, the broad location of major open spaces, and the designated Education Land were all fixed and had been carefully integrated into this detailed application. While some local objections had been raised, those mainly pertained to aspects already agreed upon in the outline permission or were issues that would be addressed through planning conditions and obligations imposed on and included in the outline consent, or were matters that the LPA felt had now been addressed through the submission of revised plans and documents (detail of which was provided through the Officer report).

Officers reminded Members that the proposed layout built on the approved access routes and spine road, and it was considered that the overall design and layout of phases one and two would create a cohesive and attractive development. The tree-line spine road and strategically positioned open spaces in phases one and two would contribute to a strong sense of place. The scale and appearance of the dwellings, along with the high-quality landscaping proposals, were considered by Officers to be appropriate for the surrounding area and set a positive precedent for future phases.

Members were further told that the concerns regarding access to the Education Land, particularly for vehicular and pedestrian traffic, had been addressed through revised plans. Both Planning Officers and ECC  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36