Apologies were received from Councillor Lee Parker.

Members to declare any interests as appropriate in respect of items to be considered at this meeting.

None declared.

To follow.

It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on the 4 June 2021 were confirmed and signed as a true record.

None received.

In addition to any site inspections which the Committee may consider to be necessary, the Acting Chief Planning Officer will report on any other applications which require site inspections.

None requested.

An Addendum to Paper PL/21/4 will be circulated to Members prior to the commencement of the meeting summarising additional correspondence received since the publication of the agenda but before 12 noon on the working day before the meeting, together with any errata.

In accordance with the Council’s arrangements for Public Speaking at Planning Committee, representations were made as detailed below relating to the items in Paper PL/21/4 and the speakers responded to questions put to them as provided for under those arrangements.

It was RESOLVED

That subject to the imposition of conditions or reasons for refusal (whether additional or otherwise) in accordance with delegated powers under Council Minute No. 48(a) (dated 19 October 2004) decisions on the items referred to in Paper PL/21/4 be made as follows:-

14.1 Item 6A

Application                   DC/20/04663

Proposal                      Application for Approval of reserved matters following outline approval B/16/01092. Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015 – Access, Layout, Scale, Design, and Landscaping for Mixed Use development including up to 75 dwellings, a pre-school and a neighbourhood hub, comprising a swimming pool, office space, and a local shop, public open space, and associated infrastructure and landscaping as amended by drawings received on 11 November 2016 (omission of school land). 

Site Location               EAST BERGHOLT – Land East of the Constable Country Medical Centre, Heath Road, East Bergholt, Suffolk

Applicant                     Hills Building Group

14.2 The Case Officer presented the application to the Committee outlining the proposal before Members, the layout of the site, the contents of the tabled papers including the updated housing mix, and the officer recommendation of approval.

14.3 The Case Officer responded to Members’ questions on issues including: the parish council site visit to Great Bentley to view possible house designs, the scale and design of the swimming pool building, the designation of Keyworker properties and the Affordable Housing Provision, the viability of a shop and swimming pool, and the response from the Highways Authority regarding road crossing points and a Zebra Crossing.

14.4 The Case Office responded to further questions from Members on issues including: the highways implications of the proposal, compliance with policies CS11 and EB1, the sustainability measures proposed, the response from the Environmental Health team, the layout of the site, the proposed operating hours of the shop, the health provision in the area, and the protection of tree’s adjoining the site.

14.5 The Case Officer responded to additional questions from Members on issues including: why no Bungalows included in the Affordable Housing provision, the construction management plan, whether a barrier would be included on the retail car park, and that the proposal did accord with Nationally Defined Space Standards.

14.6 Members considered the representation from Emma Walker who spoke as the Agent.

14.7 The Agent responded to Members questions on issues including: the number of proposed car parking spaces in the retail car park, the end user for the swimming pool, the number of bungalows proposed on site, amenity space within the proposed flats, the number of homes proposed for over 55s, the provision for public transport in the area, the energy efficiency of the proposed dwellings, the housing needs of the village and the district, and arrangements to stop people parking on grass verges.

14.8 Members debated the application on the issues including: whether people would park on the grass verges and if bollards could be conditioned, the driveways and garages proposed on site, the proposed bungalows on site, the amenities space in the flats to dry clothes, the implications on the highway network and existing problems in the area.

14.9 Councillor David Busby proposed that the application be approved as detailed in the officer recommendation with the additional conditions as follows:

-        Notwithstanding the details of the submitted landscaping scheme the applicant shall  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

15.1 A short break was taken between 11:38-11:55 after the conclusion of DC/20/04663 but before the commencement of DC/20/04615.

15.2 Item 6B

Application                   DC/20/04615  

Proposal                      Outline Planning Application (some matters reserved, access and structural landscaping to be considered) – erection of up to 45 No dwellings (including up to 15 affordable dwellings) (following demolition of three existing buildings).

Site Location               HADLEIGH – Land off Lady Lane, Hadleigh, Suffolk

Applicant                     Place Farm Developments

15.3 The Case Officer presented the application to the Committee outlining the proposal before Members, the layout of the site, the contents of the tabled papers and the officer recommendation of refusal.

15.4 The Case Officer responded to Members’ questions on issues including: the history of the site, that the proposed development was purely residential, the suitability of the site as employment land, that the site was proposed for employment allocation in the Draft Joint Local Plan, the topography of the site and HGV access, and the land within the applicants ownership.

15.5 Members considered the representation from Leslie Short who spoke as the Agent.

15.6 The Agent responded to Members’ questions on issues including: the marketing of the site as employment land, the viability of the site, and the proposed density of the site.

15.7 Members debated the application on the issues including: the response from the Town Council, the comments from the Police, and the viability of the proposal.

15.8 Councillor Peter Beer proposed that the application be deferred for the following reason:  

-        That Application DC/20/04615 be deferred in order for the Chief Planning Officer to arrange a Member site visit (following the protocol) and for officers to provide a response to the Aspinall Verdi viability assessment.

15.9 Councillor Melanie Barrett seconded the motion.

15.10 It was noted that Councillor Adrian Osborne left the meeting so did not take part in the vote.

15.11 By 8 votes to 1

15.12 RESOLVED

That Application DC/20/04615 be deferred in order for the Chief Planning Officer to arrange a Member site visit (following the protocol) and for officers to provide a response to the Aspinall Verdi viability assessment.

16.1 Item 6C

Application                   DC/20/05137  

Proposal                      Outline Planning Application. (Access and structural Landscaping to be considered). Employent land for use as Class E business buildings up to 1900m2 and Classes B2 and B8 buildings up to 4200m2

Site Location               HADLEIGH- Land at Cobbolds Farm, Ipswich Road, Hadleigh, Suffolk, IP7 6BG

Applicant                     Place Farm Developments

16.2 Councillor Peter Beer proposed that the application be deferred for the reasons as follows as this site was linked to the previous application (DC/20/04615):

-        That application DC/20/05137 be Deferred in order for the chief Planning Officer to Arrange a Member site visit (following the protocol)

16.3 Councillor Sue Ayres seconded the motion.

16.4 By 8 Votes to 1

16.5 RESOLVED

That application DC/20/05137 be Deferred in order for the chief Planning Officer to Arrange a Member site visit (following the protocol).