Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils
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Agenda and minutes

Venue: King Edmund Chamber, Endeavour House, 8 Russell Road, Ipswich. View directions

Contact: Claire Philpot 

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Items
No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE/SUBSTITUTIONS

Minutes:

1.1          Apologies were received from Councillor Humphreys MBE, Councillor Mansel and Councillor Meyer.

 

1.2      Councillor Welham substituted for Councillor Mansel.

2.

TO RECEIVE ANY DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTERESTS AND OTHER REGISTRABLE OR NON-REGISTRABLE INTERESTS BY MEMBERS

Minutes:

2.1      Councillor Eburne declared a non-registerable interest in respect of application number DC/22/01615 as a relative works for the applicant, Bloor Homes Eastern.

 

 

 

3.

DECLARATIONS OF LOBBYING

Minutes:

3.1      All Members declared that they had been lobbied in respect of application numbers DC/22/01615 and DC/22/02252.

4.

DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL SITE VISITS

Minutes:

4.2      Councillor Eburne declared a personal site visit in respect of application number DC/22/02252.      

5.

NA/22/1 CONFIRMATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 04 MAY 2022 pdf icon PDF 147 KB

Minutes:

5.1      Councillor Matthissen commented that paragraphs 164.5 and 164.7 of the minutes should make specific reference to the concerns from Members over the gas grid.

 

5.2      It was agreed that the minutes would be amended to include ‘proposed heating systems especially regarding the gas grid’.

 

By a vote of 5 votes for and 1 abstention

 

It was RESOLVED:

 

That the minutes of the meeting held on 06 April 2022 were confirmed and signed as a true record.

Recorded Vote
TitleTypeRecorded Vote textResult
To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 04 May 2022 Ad-Hoc Carried
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  • 6.

    TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF PETITIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COUNCIL'S PETITION SCHEME

    Minutes:

    6.1      None received.

    7.

    NA/22/2 SCHEDULE OF PLANNING APPLICATIONS pdf icon PDF 144 KB

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

     

    Minutes:

    7.1      The Chair advised the Committee that there would be a change in the order of proceedings and the applications would be presented in the order as follows:

     

              7C      DC/22/02252

              7A      DC/22/01615

              7B      DC/21/04476

     

    7.2      In accordance with the Councils procedures for public speaking at on planning applications, representations were made as follows:

     

             

    Application Number

    Representations From

    DC/22/02252

    Bob Cracknell (Objector)

    Jenny Davidson (Applicant)

    Councillor Dave Muller (Ward Member)

    Councillor Terence Carter (Ward Member)

    DC/22/01615

    Peter Dow (Elmswell Parish Council)

    Alex Clark (Applicant)

    Councillor Helen Geake (Ward Member)

    Councillor Sarah Mansel (Ward Member)

    DC/21/04476

    Paul Fox (Applicant)

    Councillor David Burn (Ward Member)

    Councillor Andrew Stringer (Ward Member)

     

     

     

     

             

    8.

    DC/22/02252 WORK OF ART, GUN COTTON WAY, AND SOUTH OF LINNET DRIVE, STOWMARKET pdf icon PDF 160 KB

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    8.1      Item 7C

     

              Application              DC/22/02252

              Proposal                  Full Application – Erection of 2No art displays

    Site Location           STOWMARKET – Work of Art Gun Cotton Way, and South of Linnet Drive, Stowmarket

    Applicant                 Cedars Park Art

     

    8.2      The Case Officer presented the application to the Committee outlining the proposal before Members, the location of the site, the speed limits of the adjacent roads, the size and material of the proposed artwork and accompanying information board, the additional highways comments contained in the tabled papers and the officer recommendation of approval as detailed in the Committee report.

     

    8.3      The Case Officer responded to questions from Members on issues including: the location of the information board and how pedestrians would be able to access the board.

     

    8.4      Members considered the representation from Bob Cracknell who spoke as an objector.

     

    8.5      Members considered the representation from Jenny Davidson who spoke as the applicant.

     

    8.6      Members considered the representation from Councillor Muller who spoke as the Ward Member.

     

    8.7      Members considered the representation from Councillor Carter who spoke as the Ward Member.

     

    8.8      The Applicant responded to questions from Members on the proposed funding of future repair and maintenance works associated with the installation, and the location of the information board.

     

    8.9      Members debated the application on issues including: safety concerns relating to the layout of the roundabout and adjacent roads, and the benefits of displaying artworks in the local area.

     

    8.10    Councillor Passmore proposed that the application be approved as detailed in the officer recommendation.

     

    8.11    Councillor Eburne seconded the proposal.

     

    8.12    Members continued to debate the application on issues including: the potential impact on visibility at the roundabout, and alternative locations for the artwork.

     

    By a unanimous vote

     

    It was RESOLVED:

     

    That authority be delegated to the Chief Planning Officer to GRANT planning permission.

     

    1)    That the Chief Planning Officer be authorised to GRANT Planning Permission subject to conditions as summarised below and those as may be deemed necessary by the Chief Planning Officer:

     

    ·       Standard time limit

    ·       Approved plans (Plan submitted that form this application)

     

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

     

    ·        Pro active working statement

    ·        Application for a street furniture license.

     

     

    Recorded Vote
    TitleTypeRecorded Vote textResult
    That application number DC/22/02252 be approved as detailed in the officer recommendation Ad-Hoc Carried
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  • 9.

    DC/22/01615 LAND TO THE NORTH AND WEST OF, SCHOOL ROAD, ELMSWELL, SUFFOLK pdf icon PDF 255 KB

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    9.1      Item 7A

     

              Application              DC/22/01615

    Proposal                  Application for Approval of Reserved Matters following grant of Outline Approval DC/18/02146 Town and Country Planning Order 2015 - Submission of details for Appearance, Landscaping, Layout and Scale for erection of up to 86 dwellings (30No affordable units) including car parking, early years provision, open space provision with associated infrastructure and vehicular access. Highways improvements of road widening and cycle/footpath link.

    Site Location           ELMSWELL – Land to the North and West of, School Road, Elmswell, Suffolk

              Applicant                 Bloor Homes Eastern

     

     

    9.2      The Case Officer introduced the application to the Committee outlining the proposal before Members, the contents of the tabled papers, the location, layout and design of the site, access to the site, proposed parking and cycle storage plans, the proposed sustainability plan, and the officer recommendation of approval as detailed in the report and the tabled papers.

     

    9.3      The Case Officer and the Chief Planning Officer responded to questions from Members on issues including: why the dwellings are being built to differing building regulations across the site, the proposed heating source, the number of triple parking spaces, the proposed location of the pre-school, the conversion of gas heating systems to hydrogen, the acoustic requirements for the pre-school, any plans for the future management of the public open spaces, whether the proposed amendments to the road layout raised by Place Services had been addressed, whether the driveways would be permeable, biodiversity matters, the location of the affordable dwellings and which building regulations they would be built to, the proposed landscaping adjacent to the railway line, and the cycle path and footway provision.

     

    9.5      The Chief Planning Officer provided clarification to Members of the current position regarding the cycle path and footway provision including the location and funding, and the relevance of these issues to the application being presented to Members.

     

    9.6      Members considered the representation from Peter Dow who spoke on behalf of Elmswell Parish Council.

     

    9.7      The Parish Council representative and the Chief Planning Officer responded to questions from Members on issues including the location of the cycle path.  

     

    9.8      Members considered the representation from Alex Clarke who spoke as the Applicant.

     

    9.9      The Applicant responded to questions from Members on issues including: whether the affordable homes would be built to the new building regulations, why the buildings are being built to differing building regulations across the site, the proposed heating systems and whether the Applicant would be prepared to increase the number of dwellings on site with alternative heating sources, whether additional landscaping could be included along the railway line, which properties would have solar panels installed, proposed sustainability measures, the number of triple parking spaces on site, and whether the roads would be to an adoptable standard.

     

    9.10    A break was taken from 11:25am until 11:40am.

     

    9.11    The Ward Member Councillor Geake read out a statement from Ward Member Councillor Mansel who was unable to attend the meeting.

     

    9.12    Members considered the representation from Councillor Geake who spoke as the Ward  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

    Recorded Vote
    TitleTypeRecorded Vote textResult
    That application number DC/22/01615 be approved as detailed in the officer recommendation and with the informative notes as read out by the Chief Planning Officer Ad-Hoc Carried
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  • 10.

    DC/21/04476 LAND, NORWICH ROAD, WETHERINGSETT CUM BROCKFORD, PART IN THE PARISH OF STOKE ASH AND THWAITE, SUFFOLK pdf icon PDF 263 KB

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    10.1    Item 7B

     

              Application              DC/21/04476

    Proposal                  Application for Outline Planning Permission (Access to be considered) – Erection of 14 no. dwellings comprising: 5 no. two bedroom units; 7 no. three bedroom units; and 2 no. four bedroom units

    Site Location           WETHERINGSETT SUM BROCKFORD – Land, Norwich Road, Wetheringsett Cum Brockford, Part in the Parish of Stoke Ash and Thwaite, Suffolk

    Applicant                 Pryde Homes Ltd

     

     

    10.2    Councillor Eburne left the meeting at 12:35pm before the commencement of application number DC/21/04476.

     

    10.3    The Case Officer presented the application to the Committee outlining the proposal before Members, the location and layout of the site, the previous extant planning permission granted in October 2020, the increased number of proposed dwellings at the site compared to the previous application, the content of the tabled papers, and the officer recommendation of approval as detailed in the committee report.

     

    10.4    The Case Officer responded to questions from Members on issues including: whether officers were made aware when the previous permission was granted that there may be an increased number of dwellings at the site and how this increase would relate to the affordable housing requirement.

     

    10.5    Members considered the representation from Chris Collins who spoke as the applicant.

     

    10.6    The Case Officer and the Applicant responded to questions from Members on issues including the insufficient flood risk information.

     

    10.7    The Chair read out statements from Ward Members Councillor Burn and Councillor Stringer who were unable to attend the meeting.

     

    10.8    Councillor Field proposed that the application be refused as detailed in the officer recommendation.

     

    10.9    Members debated the application on issues including: road safety concerns, sustainability and the layout of the site.

     

    10.10  Councillor Passmore seconded the proposal.

     

    10.11  Members continued to debate the application on issues including: the lack of drainage and flood  risk information, and the increase in the proposed number of dwellings.

     

    10.12   The Area Planning Manager provided details to Members on some minor amendments to the officer recommendation.

     

    By a unanimous vote:

     

    It was RESOLVED:

     

    That the application be refused planning permission for the following reasons:

     

    1.     REASON FOR REFUSAL - UNSUSTAINABLE LOCATION

    The proposal is located in the countryside where the development of the new dwellings would not materially enhance or maintain the vitality of the rural community. Future occupants will, moreover, be likely to be reliant upon the private car to access services, facilities and employment. The District Council has an evidenced supply of land for housing in excess of 9years and has taken steps to boost significantly the supply of homes in sustainable locations. On this basis the proposal would not promote sustainable development and would be contrary to the adopted policies of the development plan which seek to direct the majority of new development to towns and key service centres listed in the Core Strategy 2008 with some provision to meet local needs in primary and secondary villages under policy CS1. In the countryside development is to be restricted having regard to policy CS2 and it is considered  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

    Recorded Vote
    TitleTypeRecorded Vote textResult
    That application number DC/21/04476 be refused as detailed in the updated officer recommendation as read out by the Area Planning Manager Ad-Hoc Carried
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  • 11.

    SITE INSPECTION

    Minutes:

    11.1    None received.