62.1    Item 7A

          Application              DC/21/04658

          Proposal                  Erection of 5 dwellings and associated works

Site Location           GREAT CORNARD – Land Between Pot Kiln Road and Raydon Way, Great Cornard, Suffolk

          Applicant                 Babergh District Council

62.2    A short break was taken from 10:31am until 10:41am after application number DC/20/04309 and before the commencement DC/21/04658.

62.3    Councillor Barrett and Councillor Beer confirmed to the Chair that they would remain on the committee for the duration of the application, and not speak as Ward Members.    

62.4    The Case Officer presented the application to the Committee outlining the proposal before Members including: details of a late representation received objecting to the loss of public open space, the location and layout of the site, the reason for referral to Committee, the open space assessment, and the officer recommendation of approval.

62.5    The Case Officer responded to questions from Members on issues including: the process to be followed for disposal of public amenity land, the history of the site and any previous planning applications, and the open space assessment.

62.6    The Area Planning Manager and the Planning lawyer provided clarification of when a Section S123 Notice would be required under the Local Government Act 1972 and confirmed that a decision could be made at the meeting regarding the application.

62.7    The Case Officer responded to further questions from Members on issues including: the number of objections received.

62.8    The Planning Lawyer provided clarity with regard to the procedural requirements of a Section 123 notice and advised Members that the planning process is separate to land ownership.

62.9    The Case Officer responded to further questions from Members on issues including: the open space assessment and provision of green space, landing point for the local air ambulance service, and the sustainability credentials of the proposed dwellings.

62.10  Members considered the representation from Councillor Jan Osborne who spoke on behalf of the applicant.

62.11  Members considered the representation from Lucy Smith who spoke on behalf of the agent.

62.12  The applicant and the agent responded to questions from Members on issues including: the proposed condition requesting a proportion of the dwellings are reserved for the local residents to purchase, the engagement with the parish council and local community, the entrance to the site and the impact this could have on existing dwellings, and the environmental benefits of the scheme.

62.13  Members debated the application on issues including: the loss of an air ambulance landing spot, the type of dwellings proposed, the loss of public open space, the number of objections received, and the sustainability of the development.

62.14  Councillor Barrett proposed that the application be refused for the following reasons:

-       Non-compliance with the National Planning Policy Framework Paragraph 99 and open space assessment.

-       Harm from the loss of open space would not be outweighed by public benefit.

62.15  Councillor Beer seconded the motion.

By a vote of 8 votes for, and 3 against

It was RESOLVED:

That the application be refused for the following reasons:

-       non-compliance with National Planning Policy Framework Paragraph 99 and open space assessment,

-       harm from loss of open space would not be outweighed by public benefit.