91.1    Apologies were received from Councillor Eburne and Councillor Humphreys MBE.

92.1    Councillor Meyer declared an other non-registerable interest in respect of application number DC/20/05894 as the Agent was a resident in his Ward.

93.1    All Members declared that they had been lobbied in respect of application number DC/20/05894.

93.2    Councillor Meyer declared that he had been lobbied in respect of application number DC/22/04002.

94.1    None declared.

It was RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 15 February 2023 were confirmed and signed as a true record.

96.1    None received.

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

97.1    The Chief Planning Officer provided an update to the Committee regarding application number DC/20/05126 and advised Members that the application had been deferred by Officers to enable additional information relating to the noise and odour mitigation proposals to be considered by Officers. The application would return to Committee at a later date.

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

98.1    Item 7A

          Application              DC/20/05894

Proposal                  Submission of details (Reserved Matters) pursuant to Outline Planning Permission DC/19/03486. Layout, Scale, Appearance and Landscaping for the construction of up to 210 dwellings, public open space, play area, sustainable drainage features and associated infrastructure including foul sewerage pumping station.

Site Location           THURSTON – Land South West of, Beyton Road, Thurston, Suffolk

Applicant                 Bloor Homes & Sir George Agnew

98.2    The Case Officer presented the application to the Committee outlining the proposal before Members including: the location and proposed layout of the site, the proposed vehicular access, storey heights of the buildings, the locations of the affordable housing, the proposed design and character areas of the development, the landscape and ecology management plan and ecological enhancements,  the proposed play area including amended landscaping, water drainage plans, the proposed parking plan, cycleways and connectivity plan, the contents of the tabled papers, and the officer recommendation of approval as detailed in the tabled papers.

98.3    The Case Officer responded to questions from Members on issues including the parking plan, permeability of driveways, whether any advice was obtained from a Design Out Crime Officer, the management of future landscaping and whether landscaping would include established planting, whether the trees to be planted would be on community land, the proposed heating system, the conditions relating to the timing of highways improvements, the location of the cycleway, the charging sped of the public electric vehicle (EV) charging point, and which trees are to be retained.

98.4    Members considered the representation from Vicky Waples who spoke on behalf of Thurston Parish Council.

98.5    The Parish Council representative responded to questions from Members on issues including the concerns of the Parish Council regarding the cycleway and footpath routes.

98.6    Members considered the representation from Stephen Lee who spoke as the applicant.

98.7    The Applicant and James Bailey, the Agent, responded to questions from Members on issues including: whether the spine roads will be adoptable, the landscaping scheme and future management plans, the permeability of driveways, the EV charging points, solar panel installation, the connectivity of the offsite cycleway to the existing highway, whether the existing footpath could be improved to become a cycleway, sustainability measures, the locations of the 2.5 storey dwellings within the site, the proposed number of bungalows, the number of triple parking spaces, and the number of dwellings with an excess parking allowance.

98.9    The Chair read out a statement from Ward Member Councillor Davies who was unable to attend the meeting.

98.10  Members considered the representation from Ward Member Councillor Richardson.

98.11  Members debated the application on issues including: the proposed number of properties on the development, the opportunity for future proofing developments, the responses received from statutory consultees, the adequacy of the cycle paths, the number of triple parking spaces, and the level of community engagement and improvements made to the proposal following the previous presentation to Committee.

98.12  Councillor Passmore proposed that the application be approved subject to additional  conditions relating to the cycleways, triple parking,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 98.

99.1    Application deferred by Officers.

100.1  Item 7C

          Application              DC/22/04002

Proposal                  Hybrid Application. Full planning Application for B8 storage and E(g) office uses for Land Parcels4 and 5. Outline Planning Application for B2 light industrial, B8 storage and E(g) office uses for Land Parcel 6.

Site Location           WOOLPIT – Land at Lawn Park Business Centre, Warren Lane, Woolpit, IP30 9RS

Applicant                 C & K Smith

100.2   A break was taken from 11:17am until 11:24am after application number DC/20/05894 and before the commencement of application number DC/22/04002.

100.3  The Case Officer introduced the application to the Committee outlining the proposal before Members including: the previous decision of deferral of the application by Committee on 18 January 2023, the amendments made to the application since that decision, the letter of objection received since the publication of the agenda for this meeting, the location of the site, the site constraints, the planning history of the site, the proposed block plan, the potential harm to heritage assets, the vehicle tracking alignment plan, the proposed landscaping plan, the proposed Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) routing plan, the proposed lighting plan, access to the site, and the officer recommendation of approval as detailed in the report.

100.4  The Case Officer responded to questions from Members on issues including: whether there were permitted development rights for B1/B8 uses, the proposed colour scheme of the buildings, installation of solar panels, and the timing, intensity, and direction of the lights.

100.5  The Planning Lawyer confirmed that the classes of use detailed in the report were accurate. 

100.6  Members considered the representation from Julia Ewans who spoke on behalf of Woolpit Parish Council.

100.7  Members considered the representation from Jamie Martin-Edwards who spoke as the Agent.

100.8  Members considered the representation from Councillor Sarah Mansel who spoke as the Ward Member.

100.9  Members considered the representation from Councillor Helen Geake who spoke as the Ward Member.

100.10 The Ward Members responded to questions from Members on issues including: whether traffic to the site travelled through the village of Woolpit.

100.11The Area Planning Manager and the Case Officer responded to question on issues including: whether there were any restrictions in place in surrounding roads with regard to HGV’s, and whether any enforcement action to ensure HGV drivers follow the suggested routes.

100.12 Members debated the application on issues including the lighting plan, and traffic concerns including the GHV routes and enforcement issues.

100.13 Councillor Passmore proposed that the application be approved subject to additional conditions relating to the colour scheme of the buildings, and a vehicle tracking scheme.

100.14 Councillor Meyer seconded the proposal.

By a vote of 4 votes for and 1 against.

It was RESOLVED:

That the authority of Development Control Committee be delegated to the Chief Planning Officer to GRANT Hybrid Planning Permission following agreement from the relevant consultees relating to ecology and landscaping and subject to conditions as summarised below and those as may be deemed necessary by the Chief Planning Officer:

Full Planning Permission:

·       Development to be commenced within 3-year time scale.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 100.

101.1  Councillor Hicks left the meeting at 12:20pm.

101.2  In the absence of a Chair and Vice Chair, nominations were requested for the election of a Chair for the remainder of the meeting.

101.3  Councillor Mansel proposed that Councillor Meyer Chair the meeting.

101.4  Councillor Passmore seconded the motion.

By a unanimous show of hands

It was RESOLVED:

That Councillor Meyer would chair the meeting.

102.1  Item 7D

          Application              DC/22/04581

Proposal                  Planning Application - Re-surface and landscape existing car park.

Site Location           WINGFIELD – Car Park, Wingfield Barns, Church Road, Wingfield, IP21 5RA   

Applicant                 Wingfield Barns CIC

102.2  The Case officer introduced the application to the Committee outlining the proposal before Members including: the reason for referral to the Committee, the location of the site, the proposed works to be undertaken, the site constraints, the existing and proposed plans, the surrounding landscaping, and the officer recommendation of approval as detailed in the report.

102.3  The Case Officer and the Planning Lawyer responded to questions from Members on issues including: the reasons why planning permission was required, and the condition relating to the surface materials.

102.4  Councillor Passmore proposed that the application be approved as detailed in the officer recommendation and with an additional condition relating to the permeable surface.

102.5  Councillor Field seconded the proposal.

It was RESOLVED:

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 (3yrs for implementation of scheme)

·       Approved Plans (Plans submitted that form this application)

·       Landscaping

·       Surfacing Materials to be agreed

·       Strategy for disposal of surface water including management and maintenance to be agreed

·       Construction surface water management plan to be agreed

And with the following additional condition as agreed by Committee

Surfacing condition to confirm permeable surface and appropriate appearance

103.1  None received.