129.1  Apologies were received from Councillor Peter Gould.

129.2  Councillor Lavinia Hadingham substituted for Councillor Peter Gould.

130.1  Councillor Caston declared a local non-pecuniary interest in respect of application number DC/21/05669 as he is the Ward Member. Councillor Caston confirmed that he would not debate or vote on the application.

130.2  Councillor Muller declared a local non-pecuniary interest in respect of application number DC/21/05063 as he knows an Objector to the application who was not present at the Committee.

131.1  Councillors Guthrie, Muller, Mellen, Norris, Stringer and Warboys declared that they had been lobbied on application number DC/21/05669.

132.1  None declared.

133.1  It was resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 20 April 2022 were confirmed and signed as a true record.

134.1  None received.

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

135.1  In accordance with the Council’s procedure for public speaking on Planning applications, representations were made as detailed below:

136.1  Item 7A

          Application              DC/21/05669

Proposal                  Application for approval of the outstanding Reserved Matters following grant of Outline Permission DC/19/01401- Residential development of up to 115 dwellings and access, including open space and landscaping - Details for Appearance, Landscaping, Layout and Scale required under Conditions 1 and 2 and concurrently required details of Surface Water Drainage (Condition 12); Landscape and Ecological Management Plan (Condition 15); Biodiversity Enhancement Strategy (Condition 16); Landscaping (Condition 18) and Housing Mix (Condition 22).

Site Location           Land To The South Of, Fitzgerald Road, Bramford, Suffolk

Applicant                 Mrs. R. M. Wintour & Hopkins Homes Limited

136.2  Councillor Caston declared himself as the Ward Member for this item and confirmed that he would not debate or vote on the application.

136.3  The Case Officer presented the application to the Committee outlining the proposal before Members including the location of the site, the site constraints, the proposed layout, changes made to the application since the last time it was presented to the Committee, proposed elevations, the proposed material mix, and the Officer’s recommendation for approval.

136.4  The Case Officer responded to questions from Members on issues including: electric vehicle charging points, proposed triple parking places, comments from the Flood and Water Officer, proposed tree species to be used in landscaping, and the proposed footpath material.

136.5  Members considered the representation from Councillor Caroline Wolton of Bramford Parish Council.

136.6  Members considered the representation from Chris Smith who spoke as the Agent.

136.7  The Agent responded to questions from Members on issues including: the proposed material for use on footpaths.

136.8  Members considered the representation from Councillor James Caston who spoke as the Ward Member.

136.9  The Ward Member responded to questions from Members on issues including: cycleway connectivity from the application site to Ipswich.

136.10 Members debated the application on issues including: changes to the proposal since the last time the application was presented to the Committee, community engagement on the application, proposed materials for the footpaths and cycle paths, management of surface water during construction, proposed management of green spaces and landscaping.

136.11 Councillor Muller proposed that the application be approved as detailed in the officer recommendation.

136.12 Councillor Guthrie seconded the proposal.

By a vote of 6 For and 1 Against

It was RESOLVED:

That the application is GRANTED reserved matters planning permission and discharge of conditions 12 (partial), 15, 16, 18 and 22, subject to conditions as summarised below and those as may be deemed necessary by the Chief Planning Officer:

• Approved Plans (Plans submitted that form this application)

• Phasing Condition (To allow phasing of the development and allows spreading of payments under CIL)

And the following informative notes as summarised and those as may be deemed necessary:

• Proactive working statement

137.1  Item 7B

          Application              DC/21/05063

Proposal                  Application for Outline Planning Permission (some matters reserved, access, layout and scale to be considered) Town and Country Planning Act 1990 - Erection of 20No houses/bungalows (including 7 affordable) open space; sustainable urban drainage systems; and associated infrastructure.

Site Location           Land South of, Forest Road, Onehouse, IP14 3HQ

Applicant                 Harris Strategic Land

137.2  Councillor Caston resumed his place on the Committee.

137.3  The Case Officer presented the application to the Committee outlining the proposal before Members including the location of the site, the Stowmarket Area Action Plan, the proximity of the site to Stowmarket, the constraints, the proposed landscaping strategy, access to the site, and the Officer’s recommendation for approval.

137.4  The Case Officer responded to questions from Members on issues including: footpath connectivity, visibility splays at the proposed access to the site, the location of the end of the 30mph zone, proposed tree and vegetation loss, lack of pedestrian crossing, location of and connectivity to the bridleway from the site, and Elder Cottage and its related heritage issues. 

137.5  Members considered the representation of Councillor Nicky Willshire of Onehouse Parish Council.

137.6  Members considered the representation of Ian Crissell who spoke as an Objector.

137.7  Members considered the representation of James Bailey who spoke as the Agent.

137.8  The Agent responded to questions from Members on issues including: the visibility splay at the proposed access to the site.

137.9  Members considered the representation from Councillor John Matthissen who spoke as the Ward Member.

137.10 The Ward Member responded to questions from Members on issues including: the location of nearby outline applications and their proximity to the proposed site.

137.11 Members debated the application on issues including: the location of the proposed access, potential visibility issues at the proposed access, lack of facilities within Onehouse to support a new development, the proximity of the site to nearby listed buildings, the potential impact on landscaping, and the proposed highways improvements incorporated into the application.

137.12 Councillor Mellen proposed that the application be refused.

137.13 Councillor Warboys seconded the proposal.

137.14 A short break was taken between 11:35am and 11:48am for the reasons for refusal to be discussed and agreed.

By a unanimous vote

It was RESOLVED:

That the application be refused for the following reasons:

The proposal is within open countryside, which provides an important gap between Onehouse and Stowmarket, the loss of which would result in a reduction of the gap between the settlements, where the development would not materially enhance or maintain the vitality of the rural community and by reason of overdevelopment result in further harm to the countryside and important gap between settlements.

The proposal would be contrary to Local Plan Policies H7, Core Strategy CS1, CS2 and CS5.  However, these are not considered to be up to date in this instance, given the location of the site on the edge of Stowmarket. 

The tilted balance is thus engaged, but the proposal results in harm to the countryside, and reduction in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 137.

138.1  Item 7C

          Application              DC/21/02982

Proposal                  Full Planning Application - Erection of 54 No. dwellings (including 19 affordable), creation of vehicular and pedestrian access, public open space, infrastructure and landscaping.

Site Location               Land East of, Aspall Road, Debenham, Suffolk, IP14 6QA

Applicant                 Hopkins & Moore (Developments) Limited

138.2  Councillor Guthrie declared herself as the Ward Member for this item and confirmed that she would not debate, vote on or Chair the Committee for the duration of the application.

138.3  Councillor Muller assumed the role of Chair for the rest of the Committee.

138.4  The Case Officer presented the application to the Committee outlining the proposal before Members including the location of the site, the constraints, the proposed site layout, proposed drainage basins, proposed footpaths, the location of proposed triple parking areas, highways mitigation on Aspall Road, the proposed drainage strategy, the consultation response from Heritage and Historic England, proposed sustainability measures, the proposed S106 agreement, and the Officer’s recommendation for approval.

138.5  The Case Officer responded to questions from Members on issues including: listed assets in proximity to the site, the proposed highways mitigation works, impacts on footpaths, and the potential impacts on landscaping.

138.6  Members considered the representation of Councillor Richard Blackwell of Debenham Parish Council.

138.7  Members considered the representation of Geoff Armstrong who spoke as the Applicant.

138.8  The Applicant responded to questions from Members on issues including: proposed landscaping buffers, the functionality of the proposed chimneys, and proposed footpath improvements.

138.9  Members considered the representation of Councillor Kathie Guthrie who spoke as the Ward Member.

138.10 Members debated the application on issues including: the proposed decorative chimneys, vegetation screening, highways improvements, and the response from the Heritage consultation.

138.11 Councillor Stringer proposed that the application be approved as detailed in the Officer recommendation with the following conditions:

·       That the non-functioning chimneys be removed.

·       That the wider structural landscape planting be reviewed.

138.12 Councillor Hadingham seconded the proposal.

By a vote of 6 For and 1 Against

It was RESOLVED:

Defer to the Chief Planning Officer to:

·       Agree scheme to remove non-functioning chimneys

·       Review wider structural landscape planting

Subject to this, that authority be delegated to the Chief Planning Officer to GRANT Planning Permission, subject to the following:

(1) Subject to the prior agreement of a Section 106 Planning Obligation on appropriate terms to the satisfaction of the Chief Planning Officer as summarised below and those as may be deemed necessary by the Chief Planning Officer to secure:

• Onsite delivery of 35% Affordable housing - with mix and tenure, to be negotiated to the satisfaction of the Chief Planning Officer;

• On-site provision of Public Open Space, and future maintenance thereof;

• Financial contribution towards traffic management measures on the site in the vicinity of the development site area, as required by Suffolk Country Council.

(2) That the Chief Planning Officer be authorised to GRANT Planning Permission upon completion of the legal agreement subject to conditions as summarised below and those as may be deemed necessary by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 138.

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

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

139.1 None received.