Minutes:
47.1 Item 6A
Application DC/20/05361
Proposal Application for Outline Planning Permission (some matters reserved, access to be considered) Town and Country Planning Act 1990 – Residential Development for up to 100No dwellings (35 affordable), play space, scout hut, canoe storage and community orchard (following demolition of Beaulieu High Street, Acton CO10 0AJ)
Site Location ACTON – Land South East of Barrow Hill, Acton, CO10 0AS
Applicant Innominate Trust (Registered Charity Number 27115) & Leith Planning Investments (Suffolk) Ltd
47.2 The Case Officer presented the application to the Committee outlining the proposal before Members, the layout and location of the site, the previous permission granted in 2017, the contents of the tabled papers including the updated officer recommendation of approval.
47.3 The Case Officer responded to questions from Members on issues including: the property on site to be demolished, the potential for a pedestrian crossing and the response from the Highways Authority, the previous permission granted and the expiry date of that permission, ecological mitigation, proposed education provision, and the width and location of the access road.
47.4 Members considered the representation from Christine Johnson who spoke on behalf of Acton Parish Council.
47.5 The Parish Council representative responded to questions from Members on issues including: the Parish Councils position on the application, the additional conditions suggested by the Parish Council, schooling capacity at the primary school, and public transport provision in the area.
47.6 The Case Officer provided clarification to Members regarding the width of the access road and the plans to widen the footpath, and the proposed landscaping of the site.
47.7 Members considered the representation from Roberta Caradine who spoke as an Objector.
47.8 The Objector responded to questions from Members on issues including: the current application before Members and the previously approved application from 2017.
47.9 Members considered the representation from Paul Kallee-Grover who spoke as the Agent.
47.10 The Agent responded to questions from Members on issues including: the provision of land for the Scouts, the possibility of a crossing being installed on the access road, the number of houses to be built on the site, the viability of the site, and plans for ongoing communication with the local community.
47.11 The Case Officer and the Area Planning Manager advised Members that it would be unjustifiable to condition a crossing as this had not been requested by the Highway Authority on this application or the previous one, however an information note could be added to the resolution.
47.12 Members considered the representation from Councillor Elisabeth Malvisi who spoke as the Ward Member.
47.13 The Ward Member responded to questions from Members on issues including: the possible increase in traffic.
47.14 The Case Officer and the Area Planning Manager commented on the proposed conditions surrounding construction management.
47.15 Following a question from Councillor Busby, the Case Officer provided confirmation regarding the overhead power cables on the site.
47.16 Members debated the application on issues including: the potential increase in traffic, whether a pedestrian crossing could be conditioned, and the absence of a Neighbourhood Plan for Acton.
47.17 The Planning Lawyer provided clarification regarding the previous application approved, and the impact that decision had on the application before Members at this meeting.
47.18 Members continued to debate the application on issues including: the drainage plans on site, the width of the access road, and the mix of dwellings on site.
47.19 Councillor Barrett proposed that the application be approved as detailed in the updated Officer recommendation.
47.20 Councillor Beer seconded the proposal, and proposed that an informative note be added as follows:
- The Applicant is requested to communicate with the Local Highway Authority in order to provide a pedestrian crossing.
47.21 Councillor Barrett agreed to the additional informative note.
47.22 By 7 votes to 2 with 2 abstentions
47.23 RESOLVED
That the application is GRANTED planning permission and includes the following conditions:-
(1) Subject to the prior agreement of a Section 106 Planning Obligation on appropriate terms to the satisfaction of the Chief Planning Officer as summarised below and those as may be deemed necessary by the Chief Planning Officer to secure:
• Affordable housing
This shall include
- 35% Affordable Housing
- Properties shall be built to current Housing Standards Technical requirements March 2015 Level 1. All ground floor 1 bed flats to be fitted with level access showers, not baths.
- The council is granted 100% nomination rights to all the affordable units on initial lets and 75% on subsequent lets
- All affordable units to be transferred freehold to one of the Councils preferred Registered providers.
- Adequate parking provision is made for the affordable housing units including cycle storage for all units.
- Commuted sum option available to be paid instead of on site provision should the LPA agree to such request.
• Land for Scout Hut and canoe storage.
• Contribution of £11,150 to produce travel plan packs that contain the following: · Multi-modal voucher (for purchase of bus tickets, or cycle voucher) - £100 per dwelling (£10,000 in total for 100 dwellings) · Design and printing of 100 packs, plus maps - £1,150 This requirement should be carried over to this revised planning application to help maximise the use of sustainable transport in the area to act as a form of highway mitigation.
• PROW - The anticipated increased use of the PROW network of as a result of the development will require the following improvement works: · FP9 to be retained within a wide green corridor for its full length. · Under a s278 agreement, the Developer to surface the full length of FP9 with an unsealed surface to a width of 1.5 metres · The Developer to remove the two barriers towards the northern and southern ends of FP9 and make good the surface. · The Developer agrees to enter into a creation agreement for a new 2 metre wide public footpath within a wide green corridor on the alignment shown on the below map (unless a different alignment is more amenable for the public by the time the agreement comes to be made), to link with routes within the development. Once legally created, the Developer to surface the full length with an unsealed surface under a s278 agreement, specification to be agreed with the Area Rights of Way Officer, Kevin Verlander. A s106 contribution of £7,200 to cover the legal work required for the creation, staff time, commuted sum.
• Public transport contribution of £50,000 towards enhancing demand responsive services in the area. The £50,000 would enable the local community transport provider to recruit paid drivers and thus offer guaranteed journeys from Acton to key locations rather than being reliant on volunteers. The sum should last them 3-4 years by which point levels of use may well permit the introduction of a regular local bus service. This would provide greater flexibility of travel for the residents, covering more destinations and times than conventional services. There is a desire to upgrade the existing bus stops which will the benefit residents, visitors to the site and the community. If the raised bus stop kerbs works are not completed as part of the s278 agreement, we request a contribution of £5,000 for construction.
(2) That the Chief Planning Officer be authorised to GRANT Planning Permission upon completion of the legal agreement subject to conditions as summarised below and those as may be deemed necessary by the Chief Planning Officer:
• Non standard time limit (18 months for submission of Reserved/ Matters)
• Approved Plans (Plans submitted that form this application)
• Phasing Condition (To allow phasing of the development and allows spreading of payments under CIL)
• Agreement of measures to improve sustainability of development
• All conditions recommended by archaeology
• All conditions recommend by the Lead Flood Authority
• Hard and soft landscaping scheme concurrent with RM – including Arboricultural Method Statement, Tree Protection Plan and monitoring schedule.
• Provision of fire hydrants
• Materials concurrent with RM
• All conditions recommend by the Highway Authority • Construction Management Plan
• Foul water strategy
• Swift boxes installation scheme to be agreed
• Hedgehog fencing scheme to be agreed
• Market housing mix concurrent with reserved matters to be agreed
• Level access to enable wheelchair access for all dwellings/buildings.
• All conditions recommended by Ecology Place Services
(3) And the following informative notes as summarised and those as may be deemed necessary:
• Pro active working statement
• SCC Highways and PROW notes
• Archaeological notes
(4) That in the event of the Planning obligations or requirements referred to in Resolution (1) above not being secured and/or not secured within 6 months that the Chief Planning Officer be authorised to refuse the application on appropriate grounds if considered necessary.
Additional conditions from tabled papers:
- Buffer for 30m on the east boundary
- Enhancement and mitigation as per the submitted ecology reports
- Reptile surveys to be submitted prior to any clearing or commencement works
Additional Informatives
- The Applicant is requested to communicate with the Local Highway Authority in order to provide a pedestrian crossing.
Supporting documents: