Erection of up to 100 dwellings (to include specialist housing for older people and customer/self-build homes) together with amenity space, landscaping and associated works.

 Earlier on in the meeting, as reported under Minute 68 above, Councillor Wiggins had declared that she was one of the local Ward Members for Alresford and that she was also pre-determined. She therefore did not sit as a member of the Committee for this item but instead sat in the public gallery and exercised her right, as Ward Member, to speak on the application. Councillor Wiggins then left the room, whilst the Committee deliberated upon the application and reached its decision.

Also, earlier on in the meeting, as reported under Minute 68, Councillor Scott had declared that he was one of the local Ward Members for Alresford as well as the Caller-In and that he would be speaking on this item in both capacities.

Members were told that this outline proposal sought up to 100 dwellings, including 60 age restricted homes, 30% affordable housing, 5 no. custom/self-build plots and 5 no. homes for first time buyers, together with 2.7ha of public open space and enhanced pedestrian links. Although the site lay outside of the settlement development boundary, the Council’s housing land supply shortfall had engaged the ‘tilted balance’, and the scheme delivered substantial social benefits by meeting a significant identified need for older persons’ accommodation, alongside economic and environmental benefits including extensive green infrastructure and Biodiversity Net Gain.

The Committee heard that the technical matters included highways, archaeology, drainage, ecology, trees, amenity and minerals which could all be satisfactorily addressed through conditions and planning obligations.

Members were made aware that the benefits of the scheme were considered to outweigh the limited landscape and policy harms, and that the development constituted sustainable development under the NPPF.

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 Senior Planning Officer (AL) in respect of the application.

An Officer Update Sheet had been circulated to Members prior to the meeting which informed the Committee as follows:-

“Addendum to the officer report (Principle of Development section):

Agricultural Land Classification

Adopted Local Plan Section 2 Paragraph 7.3.1 states that in order to promote sustainable development, in considering where to select sites for new development in this Local Plan, the Council has taken particular care to assess the value of the landscape and, where practical, allocate sites with the lowest sensitivity, thereby helping to protect valued landscapes and the best and most versatile agricultural land.

The Glossary to the NPPF defines best and most versatile agricultural land as land in grades 1, 2 and 3a of the Agricultural Land Classification (ALC). Paragraph 187 b) of the NPPF states that planning policies and decisions should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment by recognising the intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside, and the wider benefits from natural capital and ecosystem services – including the economic and other benefits of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 70