Agenda item
Outline Planning Application (Access to be considered) - multi-use sports community building incorporating a cricket pavilion, a cricket pitch and enabling residential development of up to 120no. dwellings.
Minutes:
It was reported that this outline application proposed up to 120 dwellings with only access to be considered at this stage. The site was located outside but abutted the Settlement Development Boundary for Great Bentley. The Council’s lack of a five?year housing land supply had engaged the presumption in favour of sustainable development. The site had been included as a potential housing allocation in the emerging Local Plan. Technical matters including highways, archaeology, drainage, ecology, landscaping and amenity had been demonstrated as acceptable or could be mitigated through conditions and a Section 106 agreement.
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 refusal.
At the meeting, an oral presentation was made by the Council’s Principal Planning Officer (MP) in respect of the application.
No updates had been circulated to Members in relation to this application.
Henry Fairbanks (the Chairman of Great Bentley Cricket Club, the joint applicant) spoke in support of the application.
Parish Councillor Peter Harry, on behalf of Great Bentley Parish Council, spoke in support of the application.
Councillor Aimee Keteca, the Ward Member, spoke in support of the application.
Councillor White suggested that Highways Informative Note iv) within the Officer report (A.2) should be amended or removed to reflect the recent priority changes made by Essex County Council in relation to climate action and net zero carbon emissions. The Head of Planning and Building Control undertook to take that into consideration.
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Matters raised by Members of the Committee:- |
Officer response thereto:- |
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Why has the Environment Agency (EA) withdrawn its objection? |
The EA did initially raise an objection because the proposed access was slightly further west and fell within the tiny part of the site that falls within Flood Zones 2/3 so the access has been relocated to the now proposed location which will far outside Flood Zones 2/3 which is why the objection was withdrawn. |
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Why was it decided that there was not a need for an additional bus stop or for a contribution to bus services despite the recommendation of ECC Highways? |
In terms of the bus stop the suggested location for it was located approximately 1,000m to the west within the main hub of Great Bentley and, from memory, within 150m of an existing bus stop. It was so far removed from the application site that we did not consider it was necessary and reasonable to this application. In terms of the financial contribution I’ve had discussions with the ECC to understand the justification for this figure but this was, unfortunately, not forthcoming so we did not feel that this was sufficiently justified why the passenger transport improvements were needed as a result of this development and so therefore it did not meet the CIL tests of being reasonable and necessary for us to be able to ask for that as part of the financial contributions within the Section 106 agreement. |
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Could there be another larger exit onto the adjacent site [Michael Wright Way] via the lower quality, narrower road that goes all the way around the cricket pitch, could that not be extended or widened to give an alternative to the exit onto Weeley Road? |
We have to determine what is before us and this is an indicative layout only and may not be what it ultimately ends up looking. So, all we are assessing is the proposed access in this location. ECC Highways have not raised an objection to this proposed entrance/exit. |
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How far will the 30mph zone be extended? Could we be robust in pursuing that? |
That is a condition that ECC Highways have proposed to be put forward. It’s not part of the proposal and will have to be dealt with under a Section 278 process. We could use the informative route to try and encourage that process. |
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Could you clarify the enabling aspect? |
I’m not too sure where that came from. Essentially an enabling scheme normally relates to the protection or preservation of a listed building for example. It’s not what this scheme is about just to be clear. I suppose a different way of looking at this is this is a housing scheme and also it’s got sports facilities – it’s a mixed use scheme. One of the public speakers referred to it as the housing is enabling the delivery of the cricket club’s facilities and that’s probably where that word has come from but essentially this is not an enabling scheme. |
After the debate, it was moved by Councillor Bray, seconded by Councillor Alexander and unanimously:-
RESOLVED that:-
(a) the Head of Planning and Building Control be authorised to grant outline planning permission subject to -
(1) the completion of a legal agreement under the provisions of Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 dealing with the matters as summarised at paragraph 9.2 of the Officer report (A.2) and on any other appropriate terms as may be deemed necessary to the satisfaction of the Head of Planning and Building Control; and
(2) the conditions as stated at paragraph 9.3 of the Officer report (A.3) or varied as is necessary to ensure the wording is enforceable, precise, and reasonable in all other respects, including appropriate updates, so long as the principle of the conditions as referenced is retained.
(b) informative notes be sent to the applicant, as may be deemed necessary, by the Head of Planning and Building Control, including an informative note in relation to improving highways signage near the proposed access.
(c) in the event of the planning obligations or requirements referred to in resolution (a)(1) above not being secured and/or not secured within 12 months from the date of this meeting then the Head of Planning and Building Control is authorised to review the application on any appropriate grounds and to determine the same under the national delegation arrangements then in force.
Supporting documents:
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