Agenda item

Erection of 84 dwellings, including the provision of affordable homes together with means of access, parking, garaging, associated landscaping and public open space provision.

Councillor M. Brown had previously declared that, due to the fact he was not present on the original site visits for Planning Application 18/00367/FUL – Land North of Cockaynes Lane, Alresford, CO7 8BT, he would not participate while the Committee deliberated and reached its decisions on this application.

Councillor Davis had previously declared that, due to the fact she was not present on the original site visits for Planning Application 18/00367/FUL – Land North of Cockaynes Lane, Alresford, CO7 8BT, she would not participate while the Committee deliberated and reached its decisions on this application.

Members recalled that this application had originally been before the Committee at its meetings held on 21^st August 2018, where the application was deferred to enable further discussion to take place between Officers and the agent regarding the location of affordable housing, the introduction of bungalows, the potential of alternative types of housing ownership / occupation, such as Almshouses, and the submission of additional reports as required by the ecology report.

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 was circulated to the Committee prior to the meeting with details of:

(1)     An Updated consultation response received from Essex County Council SUDS

(2)     Comments received from Councillor G. Scott

Following discussion by the Committee, it was moved by Councillor Everett, seconded by Councillor Mcwilliams to refuse this application on the grounds of having no bungalows within the plan, as this goes against the amenity of residents on Station Road and the appropriate mix of design within the development.

However, when put to the vote the proposal to refuse was lost.

After further discussion by the Committee and advice being given by officers, it was moved by Councillor Baker and seconded by Councillor Fowler and RESOLVED that the Head of Planning (or equivalent authorised officer) be authorised to grant planning permission for the development, subject to:

a) The completion of a legal agreement under the provisions of Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) within 6 months of the date of the Committee’s resolution to approve, dealing with the following matters:

1. Affordable Housing – 3 units to be gifted to the Council and 8 units to be transferred to a Registered Provider; to be prioritised for households with an Alresford connection first, then households from neighbouring parishes and then the whole district.

2. Education -– Financial contribution towards Early Years and Childcare, Primary Education, Secondary Education and Secondary School Transport;

3. Healthcare – Financial contribution towards improvement of services at Colne Medical Centre, including the Alresford Branch Surgery; and

4. Public Open Space and equipped play areas - To be transferred to Council and laid out before transfer, with a financial contribution towards future maintenance. ;

b) Planning conditions in accordance with those set out in (i) below (but with such amendments and additions, if any, to the detailed wording thereof as the Head of Planning (or the equivalent authorised officer) in their discretion considers appropriate).

(i) Conditions:

1.    Standard 3 year time limit for implementation.

2.    Development to be carried out in accordance with the approved plans.

3.    External finishing materials on the dwellings to be in accordance with the Colour of Materials Layout Plan.

4.    Hard surfaces to be in accordance with Surface Materials Layout Plan.

5.    Boundary treatments to be installed in accordance with Boundary Treatment Layout Plan.

6.    Construction of the access in accordance with approved plans;

7.    Provision of visibility splays;

8.    No unbound material to be used within 6m of the highway;

9.    No discharge of surface water onto the highway;

10.  Parking and turning facilities to be provided prior to occupation of dwellings, spaces and garages to meet ECC standards;

11.  Residential Travel Information Pack for sustainable transport to be provided for each dwelling on occupation.

12.  Construction Method Statement to submitted and be adhered to throughout the construction period, to provide for:

                      i.        Safe access to/from the site

                     ii.        The parking of vehicles of site operatives and visitors

                    iii.        Loading and unloading of plant and materials

                   iv.        Storage of plant and materials used in constructing the development

                    v.        Wheel and underbody washing facilities

                   vi.        The erection and maintenance of security hoarding

                  vii.        Measures to control the emission of dust and dirt during construction

                 viii.        A scheme for recycling/disposing of waste resulting from construction

                   ix.        Delivery and construction working hours

                    x.        Site lighting

                   xi.        Scheme to minimise the risk of offsite flooding caused by surface water run-off and groundwater during construction works and prevent pollution.

13.  Submission and implementation of a detailed surface water drainage scheme for the site, based on sustainable drainage principles and an assessment of the hydrological and hydro geological context prior to the commencement of the development.

14.  Submission and implementation of a Maintenance Plan detailing the maintenance arrangements including who is responsible for different elements of the surface water drainage system and the maintenance activities/frequencies prior to the commencement of the development of each phase.

15.  Submission and implementation of a foul water strategy prior to commencement of development.

16.  A Programme of Archaeological and geoarchaeological evaluation.

17.  No piling to be undertaken without prior written agreement.

18.  External lighting scheme, to minimise light pollution and impact upon bats.

19.  Submission of a Construction Environmental Management Plan, to manage the effects of site clearance and construction operations on the natural environment.

20.  All trees and hedgerows to be retained to be protected in accordance with BS5837, unless otherwise agreed.

21.  All changes in ground levels, hard landscaping, planting, seeding or turfing shown on the approved landscaping details shall be carried out during the first planting and seeding season (October - March inclusive) following the commencement of the development or in such other phased arrangement as may be agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority. Any trees or shrubs which, within a period of 5 years of being planted die, are removed or seriously damaged or seriously diseased shall be replaced in the next planting season with others of similar size and species, unless the Local Planning Authority agrees in writing to a variation of the previously approved details.

22.  Development to be carried out in accordance with the mitigation measures includes in the Ecological Impact Assessment.

23.  Submission of a Landscape and Ecology Management Plan to specify how areas of green space to be managed, including measures to create new habitats, as well as general biodiversity enhancement and safeguarding protected species, to include ecological enhancement measures as set out in para. 5.36 of the Ecological Impact Assessment.

24.  Pre-construction badger survey and monitoring for signs of new sett digging; Covering any open excavations with wooden boards, or fitting them with appropriate escape ramps; Monitoring of site for any new sett excavation during prolonged remediation, construction or landscaping works.

25.  Vegetation clearance to take place outside of the bird nesting period (i.e. outside of March to August inclusive), or failing that following confirmation by a suitably qualified ecologist that nesting birds are absent from the habitats to be cleared.

26.  Adherence to Secured by Design Principles and certification.

27.  Yearly logs of maintenance in accordance with the approved surface water drainage maintenance plan.

28.  Submission of scheme to minimise the risk of off-site flooding and pollution caused by surface water run-off during construction works.

29.  No works to take place until agreement to discharge to Anglian Water storm sewer is formalised.

30.  No works to take place until it has been demonstrated through provisioning of clause in property deeds that there will be an undertaking by property owners that there will be no adjustment of ground levels that would affect the route of exceedance flow plath and that all fence lines indicated as being affected by exceedance flow will be of non-solid structure allowing for future un-restricted flow through the fence line at ground surface level.