Minutes:
20.1 Item A
Application DC/18/03114
Proposal Planning Application – Residential development of 42 dwellings, together with associated public open space, access roads, garaging and car parking.
Site Location SOMERSHAM- Land South West of, Main Road, Somersham, Suffolk
Applicant Hopkins and Moore (Developments) Limited
20.2 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, and the officer recommendation of approval with two additional conditions as follows:
1. Phasing condition
2. Ecology condition – hedgehog fencing.
20.3 The Case Officer responded to Members’ questions on issues including: the proposed offsite improvement for the public right of way, the history of the site, the road traffic incidents that had taken place in the area and that one had been incorrectly mapped, and the response from Suffolk County Council as the Floods Authority.
20.4 Members considered the representation from James Caston of Somersham Parish Council who spoke against the application. James Caston clarified before his speech that he was speaking as a Parish Councillor only and not in his role as a District Councillor.
20.5 Members considered the representation from Andrew Laughlin who spoke as an Objector.
20.6 The Objector responded to Members’ questions on issues including: the site, location and date of the road accident that had taken place in 2016, the pinch point in the road and the danger associated with it.
20.7 Members considered the representation from Chris Smith who spoke as the Applicant.
20.8 Members considered the representation from Councillor John Field who spoke as the Ward Member.
20.9 The Ward Member responded to Members’ questions on issues including: that the site was in the draft Joint Local Plan.
20.10 Members debated the application on the issues including: the petition regarding the development, the two road traffic accidents that had taken place in the area, that the highways concern associated with the narrowing road was a pre-existing issue, and the economic benefits of the proposal.
20.11 The Area Planning Manager advised Members that the Floods team at Suffolk County Council were satisfied, and that there were a limited number of options that could be undertaken regarding the pinch point, and that as the village had services either side of the pinch point Officers felt that this couldn’t be successfully defended at appeal as a reason for refusal.
20.12 Members continued to debate the application on the issues including: that the site fitted in with the settlement boundary, and the safety aspect of walking through the village.
20.13 Councillor Barry Humphreys MBE proposed that the application be approved as detailed in the officer recommendation and the additional conditions as detailed by the Case Officer. A seconder was not found.
20.14 Councillor John Matthissen proposed that the application be deferred for the following reasons:
· Members have requested that officers ask SCC Highways to confirm that an accident in 2016 not recorded on Crashmap web site has been taken into account or otherwise does not change their current position.
· Members have also sought for officers to investigate if there are any other improvements to the Main Road where there is no footway available with both SCC Highways and the applicant. This item will return to Committee B.
20.15 Councillor Mike Norris seconded the motion.
20.16 Some Members did not feel that deferring the application would provide any further information that would further inform the Committees deliberations.
20.17 By 4 votes to 3
20.18 RESOLVED
· Members have requested that officers ask SCC Highways to confirm that an accident in 2016 not recorded on Crashmap web site has been taken into account or otherwise does not change their current position.
· Members have also sought for officers to investigate if there are any other improvements to the Main Road where there is no footway available with both SCC Highways and the applicant. This item will return to Committee B.
Supporting documents: