Agenda item

Application for Phase 1 Reserved Matters for Access, Appearance, Landscaping, Layout and Scale for 96 Residential following Outline Planning Permission 15/00761/OUT (as subsequently amended by 17/01537/OUT).

The Sub-Committee was aware that the site benefited from extant outline planning consent for 300 homes and 2 hectares of employment land. Planning permission had been granted subject to a number of planning conditions including that any detailed plans for the site needed to be in general conformity with the submitted parameter plans. Those broadly identified, the location of housing, commercial development and open space as well as the height of development. 

Members were also aware that, earlier in the meeting, they had considered and approved Application 17/01537/OUT for amendment of those parameter plans by the variation of Condition 4 of planning permission 15/00761/OUT). This had been necessary in order that this application for Reserved Matters could be considered and be approved as this Reserved Matters application had been amended in order to relate to the amended parameter plans.

The Committee was informed that this Reserved Matters application for Phase 1 related to the development of 96 residential units on the northern part of the site, which equated to approximately one third of the housing quota for the entire site and included extensive landscaped areas adjoining Long Road and Clacton Road. An access off Clacton Road was also a reserved matter, details of the site access off Long Road having been approved at the outline stage. The approved commercial development would form part of a future phase of site development on land to the south. Although it had initially been proposed to incorporate a small amount of retail development into the Phase 1 scheme, this had now been deleted from the proposal.

 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 Agency Planning Officer (JS) in respect of the application.

An update sheet was circulated to the Committee prior to the meeting with details of:

1             Position of maximum speed limit on Clacton Road – to be agreed with the Highway Authority.

2             Programme for works to Long Road. This is covered by Condition 17 of Application 17/01537/OUT. Clause 2.0 of the S106 also requires that ‘The Owner hereby covenants with the County Council (in respect of the Highway Improvements Contribution) not to occupy (or allow, cause or permit the Occupation of) more than (50) dwellings unless and until: 2.2 the Highway Improvements Contribution has been paid to the County Council’.

3             Programme for provision of affordable housing and location – Schedule 2 ‘Affordable Housing’ Part One of the S106 Agreement requires that: ‘The owner hereby covenants with the Council as follows: 1. Not to commence development unless and until the Affordable Housing Plan and Specification (for the eighteen affordable units) has been submitted to the Council and the Council has approved the Affordable Housing Plan in writing’.

The affordable housing units (18) do not need to be provided until 150 market Dwellings have been occupied – i.e. during a later Phase of development.

4       Provision in respect of Bus Services – The central estate road is to be suitable (in respect of specification) for use as a bus route upon completion of development (i.e. subsequent Phases).

Samuel Bampton, the agent on behalf of the applicant, spoke in support of the application.

Following discussion by the Committee,  it was proposed by Councillor Everett and  seconded by Councillor Bennison to defer the application.  Upon being put to the vote, seven voted to defer the application, one voted against deferring the application and there was one abstention.  Therefore it was RESOLVED that consideration of this application be deferred in order to enable the Officers to hold further discussions with the applicant with a view to the lack of retail space on the site and ensure that bungalows would form part of a further application before the Committee.