100.1  There were no apologies for absence.

To receive any declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests and other registerable and non-registerable interests by Members.

101.1  Councillor Barrett declared an other non-registerable interest in respect of application number DC/22/05077 as he was the Cabinet Member for Planning when the previous application at the site was being considered.

102.1  The Planning Lawyer responded to a question from Members regarding the content of the minutes and confirmed that the minutes were a summary of the main points of the meeting.

It was RESOLVED:-

That the minutes of the meeting held on 08 February 2023 were confirmed and signed as a true record.

103.1  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.

104.1  None received.

An Addendum to Paper PL/22/27 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/22/27 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/22/27 be made as follows:-

106.1  This application was withdrawn from the agenda before the commencement of the meeting.

107.1  Item 6B

          Application              DC/22/05131

Proposal                  Planning Application - Conversion, repair and extension of existing agricultural buildings to form five dwellings. Demolition of existing metal clad barns (Resubmission following refusal of planning application DC/20/03083).

Site Location           ERWARTON – Erwarton Hall Farmyard, Shotley Road, Erwarton, Suffolk

Applicant                 JRH Veenbaas and Co.

107.2  The Case Officer introduced the application to the Committee outlining the proposal before Members including: the planning history at the site, the location of the site, the site constraints, the proposed layout of the site and the previously proposed layout, proposed elevations and floor plans, the listed status of the adjacent buildings, and the officer recommendation of refusal.

107.3  The Case Officer responded to questions from Members on issues including: the safety and security of the access to the dutch barn and its contents, the extent of new build proposed at the site compared to existing buildings undergoing conversion, and the amendments to the proposed access to the site since the previous application along with the reasons for the amended response from Suffolk County Council (SCC) Highways.

107.4  Members considered the representation from Mark Best who spoke as an Objector.

107.5  The Objector responded to questions from Members on issues including: the response from SCC Highways, what they would consider to be an acceptable alternative use of the existing buildings, whether reinstatement to agricultural use would be an acceptable alternative, and  when the site was last in agricultural use.

107.6  Members considered the representation from Nigel Ingleton who spoke as the Applicant.

107.7  The Applicant responded to questions from Members on issues including: the report received from Historic England regarding the listing status of non- designated buildings on the site.

107.8  The Area Planning Manager responded to questions from Members on issues including: the Historic England report, and whether the non-designated heritage assets of the buildings were  considered to be relevant.

107.9  The Applicant, and the Agent Elizabeth Beighton, responded to further questions from Members on issues including: the alternative viable uses for the site, the sustainability of the site, the application of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) policy regarding new buildings in the countryside, the future plans for the site should the application be refused, the target market for the proposed dwellings, public transport public transport provision in the area, and the potential light spill from the proposal.

107.10Members considered the representation from the Ward Member, Councillor Davis, who spoke against the application.

107.11The Ward Member responded to questions from Members on issues including: potential alternative acceptable uses of the site, the number of Electric Vehicle charging points in the adjacent village, the amount of ongoing development in the area, the current healthcare provision and infrastructure, the potential increase in traffic in the area, and pedestrian access to the site.

107.12The Area Planning Manager provided clarification to Members of the grade listing of the buildings, and the previous use of the buildings as detailed in the Committee report presented to Committee in August 2022.

107.13Members debated the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 107.

108.1  Item 6C

          Application              DC/22/05077

Proposal                  Application under S73A for Removal or Variation of a Condition following grant of Planning Permission B/15/00673 (as amended by DC/22/03853) dated 23/11/2017. Town and Country Planning Act 1990.- To vary Conditions 2 (Approved Plans and Documents), 17 (Submission Of Renewables Details), 19 (Landscaping Scheme), 21 (Landscape Management Plan), 22 (Ecological Enhancement Measures), 23 (Construction Management), 26 (Open Space Management Plan) and 27 (Provision of Open Space) - to allow for revised house type designs and minor amendments to the site layout

Site Location           EAST BERGHOLT – Land North West of, Moores Lane, East Bergholt, Suffolk

Applicant                 David Wilson Homes Eastern Counties

108.2  A break was taken from 11:05am until 11:13am after application number DC/22/05131 and before the commencement of application number DC/22/05077.

108.3  Councillor Beer left the meeting at 11:05am.

108.4  Cllr Hinton confirmed that he would remain on the Committee for the application and would not speak as the Ward Member.

108.5  The Case Officer introduced the application to the committee outlining the proposal before Members including: the updated comments received from East Bergholt Parish Council, the location of the site, the site constraints, the details of the extant permission and the conditions of that permission which would apply to this application, the proposed layout of the site, the proposed parking plan, the internal road and footpath layout plan, the phasing plan, the height of the buildings, the amendment to the proposal since the previous application was presented to Committee the proposed housing mix, the landscape strategy, the design of the dwellings, and the officer recommendation of approval.

108.6  The Case Officer responded to questions from Members on issues including: whether the previous issues regarding site working hours had been addressed, the surface materials throughout the site, the maintenance plans for non-adopted roads, the proposed plans for installation of solar panels, the plans for the adjacent employment land, and the  archaeological works being undertaken.

108.7  Members considered the representation from Kian Saedi who spoke as the Applicant.

108.8  The Applicant, and Ray Houghton also from the Applicant, responded to questions from Members on issues including: the boundary hedging plans, whether the existing oak tree would be retained, the number of affordable homes with solar panels installed, the future plans for the adjacent employment land, the installation of defibrillators on site, the landscaping plans for the attenuation basin, the management of open spaces, the target date for completion of works, and the archaeological works being undertaken.

108.9  Councillor Busby proposed that the application be approved as detailed in the officer recommendation.

108.10          Councillor Barrett seconded the proposal.

108.11          Members debated the application on issues including: the installation of solar panels, the ecological conditions, and the improvements made to the proposal since the previous application.

By a unanimous vote

It was RESOLVED:

That the application is GRANTED planning permission and includes the following conditions:- 

All conditions (other than commencement) to be carried over from the extant permission as precommencement conditions have only been discharged for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 108.