Apologies of absence were received from Councillors Kathie Guthrie, Michael Burke and Derek Osborne.

Councillor John Levantis substituted for Councillor Michael Burke.

Councillor Nick Gowrley substituted for Councillor Derek Osborne.

Apologies were received from Councillor Derrick Haley who was due to substitute for Councillor Kathie Guthrie.

All Members of the committee declared a non-pecuniary interest in applications DC/18/03949 & DC/18/04000 as the land was owned by Mid Suffolk District Council.

None declared.

None declared.

It was resolved that the Minutes of the meeting from 7 November 2018 were confirmed and signed as a true record.

None received.

Note: The Chairman may change the listed order of items to accommodate visiting Ward Members and members of the public.

In accordance with the Council’s procedure for public speaking on planning applications a representation was made as detailed below:

Schedule of Applications

It was noted that in the absence of the Chair that Councillor Roy Barker (Vice Chair) chaired the meeting.

The items of business were taken in the order as follows as set out by the Chair at the beginning of the meeting:

1.     0085/17

2.     DC/18/03710

3.     0656/16

4.     DC/18/04000

5.     DC/18/03949

63.1 Item 1

Application          0085/17

Proposal              Erection of 20 dwellings including 7 affordable homes (with appearance, landscaping layout and scale forming Reserved Matters)

Site Location       BARHAM- Land between Norwich Road and Pesthouse Lane, Barham.

Applicant             Messrs K & P Moxon

63.2 The Case Officer advised Members that it had been discovered on the day previous to the Committee meeting that the plans regarding the application did not include a dwelling adjacent to the site and as such had not been factored into the Officers consideration regarding residential amenity. The Case Officer therefore asked Members to defer the application so that the impact on residential amenity could be reviewed.

63.3 The Planning Lawyer advised Members that it would be inadvisable to proceed to make a decision without further consideration regarding residential amenity.

63.4 Councillor Roy Barker Proposed that the application be deferred to review the Officer Assessment and impact on amenity.

63.5 Councillor Jane Storey Seconded the motion.

63.6 By a unanimous vote

63.7 RESOLVED

Deferred to review Officer assessment and impact on amenity.

64.1 Item 5

Application          DC/18/03710

Proposal              Full Planning Application – Erection of 7 no. dwellings, garages and access road.

Site Location       GREAT FINBOROUGH – Land off Pear Tree Place, High Road, Great Finborough

Applicant             SEH (Development) Ltd

64.2 The Case Officer presented the application to the Committee outlining the proposal before Members, the layout of the site and the Officer Recommendation. The Case Officer also advised Members that a previous permission had been granted on the site at committee on 23 May 2018, but that the application before Members was a separate application. 

64.3 The Planning Lawyer responded to a question from the Committee regarding the legality of the proposal as planning permission had already been granted on the site. The Planning Lawyer advised Members that the application before them was legally acceptable and that although another permission had been granted on the site, Members were obliged to determine the application that had been received and was subsequently before them.

64.4 The Area Planning Manager and the Case Officer responded to Members’ questions on issues including: the different considerations that were before Members on the previous application and the one that was before Members, the application and interpretation of para 79 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), the constraints on plans for building a private road.

64.5 In response to Members’ questions, the Area Planning Manager advised Members that the relationship between the subdivision of plots and affordable housing had been outlined in a Ministerial Statement and the application of affordable housing policies for 10 or more dwellings.

64.6 Members considered the representation from the Objector, Simon Ginns.

64.7 The Objector responded to Members’ questions on issues including: that a management company owns the access to the site and that of the 9 shareowners 3 had objected.

64.8 Members considered the representation from the Agent, Leslie Short.

64.9 The agent responded to Members’ questions on issues including: pre-application discussions that had taken place.

64.10 The Area Planning Manager advised Members that ultimately the application before Members was a full application and that the previously approved application was a material consideration but that the weight given to it by Members was a matter for the debate.

64.11 Members considered the representation from the Ward Member, Councillor John Matthissen.

64.12 Members debated the application on the issues including: the deliverability of the proposal, that the development did not include any affordable housing, the visually important open space, the design of the proposal, the proposed landscaping on the site and the possibility of deferring the item to look further into the landscape mitigations.

64.13 Councillor Jessica Fleming proposed that the application be approved as detailed in the Officer Recommendation with the addition that authority be delegated to Officers to secure additional landscaping along the southern boundary and condition as necessary.

64.14 Councillor Nick Gowrley seconded the motion.

64.15 by a unanimous vote

64.16 RESOLVED

(1)  That the Acting Chief Planning Officer be authorised to Approve Planning Permission subject to conditions as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 64.

65.1 After the completion of application DC/18/03710 and before the commencement of 0656/16 a short comfort break was taken between 10:40-10:50.

65.2 Item 2

Application          0656/16

Proposal             Planning Application. Erection of 2 No. one bedroom dwellings and 1 No. two bedroom dwelling, (following demolition of extension to 24 Crowley Road) Widening of existing lay by to provide additional parking spaces.

Site Location       NEEDHAM MARKET- Land adj 24 Crowley Road, Needham Market, IP6 8BJ

Applicant             Mr R Moore

65.3 The Case Officer presented the application to the Committee outlining the proposal before Members, the layout of the site and the Officer Recommendation of approval with conditions.

65.4 The Case Officer responded to Members questions on issues including: the proposed car parking, the footpaths and walkways in the area ,the possible locations for bin storage and the proposed distance between the two buildings once built being 900mm.

65.5 The Governance Support Officer read out an email from the Ward Member, Councillor Mike Norris.

65.6 Members considered the representation from the Ward Member, Councillor Wendy Marchant.

65.7 Members debated the application on the issues including: the previous history of the site (as clarified by the Case Officer), the distance between the houses and the accessibility issues that it would cause.

65.8 Councillor Nick Gowrley Proposed that the application be refused for the reasons as follows:

The NPPF provides under Para 127 that planning decisions should ensure that developments: -

a) will function well and add to the overall quality of the area, not just for the short term but over the lifetime of the development;

b) are visually attractive as a result of good architecture, layout and appropriate and effective landscaping;

c) are sympathetic to local character and history, including the surrounding built environment and landscape setting, while not preventing or discouraging appropriate innovation or change (such as increased densities);

d) establish or maintain a strong sense of place, using the arrangement of streets, spaces, building types and materials to create attractive, welcoming and distinctive places to live, work and visit;

e) optimise the potential of the site to accommodate and sustain an appropriate amount and mix of development (including green and other public space) and support local facilities and transport networks; and

f) create places that are safe, inclusive and accessible and which promote health and well-being, with a high standard of amenity for existing and future users46; and where crime and disorder, and the fear of crime, do not undermine the quality of life or community cohesion and resilience.

In this case the development is not considered to demonstrate that the proposed accommodation would function sufficiently well to ensure suitable access for all, regardless of levels of mobility, and would ensure suitable emergency escape.  The development fails to demonstrate how the external amenity area/s will operate to secure and maintain an attractive space that incorporates bin storage, washing facilities and suitable general amenity for each of the units proposed.  The development would result in a narrow “alley way” to enable main  ...  view the full minutes text for item 65.

66.1 Item 3

Application          DC/18/04000

Proposal              Full Planning Application – Erection of masonry buttress to provide support to existing leaning wall.

Site Location      WINGFIELD- Wingfield Barns, Church road, Wingfield, Eye, Suffolk, IP21 5RA 

Applicant             Mr David Wardley

66.2 The Case Officer presented the application to the Committee outlining the proposal, the reasons for the application coming to the Committee and the Officer Recommendation of approval.

66.3 Members considered the representation from the Ward Member, Councillor Elizabeth Gibson-Harries.

66.4 The Ward Member responded to questions on issues including: the current use of the building.

66.5 Members debated the application on the issues including: the necessary work required on the building and that the proposal was supported by the consultation regarding Heritage.

66.6 Councillor Jessica Fleming Proposed that the application be approved as detailed in the Officer Recommendation. Councillor Wendy Marchant Seconded the motion.

66.7 By a unanimous vote

66.8 RESOLVED

(1)  That authority be delegated to the Acting Chief Planning Officer to grant planning permission subject to conditions as summarised below and those as may be deemed necessary by the Acting Chief Planning Officer:

·       Standard time limit

·       Approved Plans (Plans submitted that form this application)

67.1 Item 4

Application          DC/18/03949

Proposal             Listed Building Consent- Erection of masonry buttress to provide support to existing leaning wall 

Site Location      WINGFIELD- Wingfield Barns, Church Road, Wingfield, Eye, Suffolk, IP21 5RA       

Applicant             Mr David Wardley

67.2 The Case Officer presented the application to the Committee outlining the proposal, that the application was for Listed Building Consent to undertake the works, and that the Officer Recommendation was for approval with conditions.

67.3 Members considered the representation from the Ward Member, Councillor Elizabeth Gibson-Harries.

67.4 Councillor John Matthissen Proposed that the application be approved as detailed in the Officer Recommendation.

67.5 Councillor John Levantis Seconded the motion.

67.6 By a unanimous vote

67.7 RESOLVED

(1)  That authority be delegated to the Acting Chief Planning Officer to grant Listed Building Consent, subject to conditions as summarised below and those as may be deemed necessary by the Acting Chief Planning Officer:

·       Standard time limit

·       Approved Plans (Plans submitted that form this application)

·       Details of new facing bricks and mortar mix

Note: Should a site inspection be required for any applications, this will be decided at the meeting.

Would Members please retain the relevant papers for use at that meeting.

68.1 None requested.