Issue - meetings

Reserved matters application for 32 dwellings, land for a community facility and associated parking and infrastructure.

Councillor Heaney, in relation to Planning Application 18/01307/DETAIL, had earlier declared that she was pre-determined, therefore she withdrew from the meeting whilst the Committee deliberated on the application and reached its decision.

Councillor Nicholls, present in the public gallery, had earlier declared an interest in relation to Planning Application 18/01307/DETAIL by virtue of the fact that he was a local Ward Member.

It was reported that this Application had been referred to the Committee as at the time the related Outline Application had been determined a request had been made by Members for all reserved matters applications to be submitted to the Committee for its determination.

Members recalled that Planning Application 16/00219/OUT had sought consent for the erection of up to 32 dwellings, land for a community facility and associated parking and infrastructure. That Application had been granted at Appeal in April 2017, with all matters of detail reserved. Planning Application 17/00927/DETAIL had been granted consent for the reserved matters in relation to access only by the Committee in March 2018.

The Planning Application that was now before Members sought consent for the remaining reserved matters: appearance, landscaping, layout and scale.

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 (SC-E) in respect of the application.

An update sheet had been circulated to the Committee prior to the meeting with details of amendments to the Officer Report.

Parish Councillor Nick Bell, representing Elmstead Parish Council, spoke against the application.

Councillor Nicholls, a local Ward Member, spoke against the application.

Following discussion by the Committee and advice provided by Officers, it was moved by Councillor Baker, seconded by Councillor Bennison and RESOLVED that consideration of this application be deferred in order for written legal advice to be sought in respect of (1) the need for a Habitats Regulation Assessment and (2) the impact that would have on the Recreational Disturbance Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy contribution requested by Natural England, if any.

Members requested that this Application be bought back to the Committee for its consideration of those two issues only following the aforementioned legal advice being  made available to them.