Minutes:
137.1 Item 7B
Application DC/21/05063
Proposal Application for Outline Planning Permission (some matters reserved, access, layout and scale to be considered) Town and Country Planning Act 1990 - Erection of 20No houses/bungalows (including 7 affordable) open space; sustainable urban drainage systems; and associated infrastructure.
Site Location Land South of, Forest Road, Onehouse, IP14 3HQ
Applicant Harris Strategic Land
137.2 Councillor Caston resumed his place on the Committee.
137.3 The Case Officer presented the application to the Committee outlining the proposal before Members including the location of the site, the Stowmarket Area Action Plan, the proximity of the site to Stowmarket, the constraints, the proposed landscaping strategy, access to the site, and the Officer’s recommendation for approval.
137.4 The Case Officer responded to questions from Members on issues including: footpath connectivity, visibility splays at the proposed access to the site, the location of the end of the 30mph zone, proposed tree and vegetation loss, lack of pedestrian crossing, location of and connectivity to the bridleway from the site, and Elder Cottage and its related heritage issues.
137.5 Members considered the representation of Councillor Nicky Willshire of Onehouse Parish Council.
137.6 Members considered the representation of Ian Crissell who spoke as an Objector.
137.7 Members considered the representation of James Bailey who spoke as the Agent.
137.8 The Agent responded to questions from Members on issues including: the visibility splay at the proposed access to the site.
137.9 Members considered the representation from Councillor John Matthissen who spoke as the Ward Member.
137.10 The Ward Member responded to questions from Members on issues including: the location of nearby outline applications and their proximity to the proposed site.
137.11 Members debated the application on issues including: the location of the proposed access, potential visibility issues at the proposed access, lack of facilities within Onehouse to support a new development, the proximity of the site to nearby listed buildings, the potential impact on landscaping, and the proposed highways improvements incorporated into the application.
137.12 Councillor Mellen proposed that the application be refused.
137.13 Councillor Warboys seconded the proposal.
137.14 A short break was taken between 11:35am and 11:48am for the reasons for refusal to be discussed and agreed.
By a unanimous vote
It was RESOLVED:
That the application be refused for the following reasons:
The proposal is within open countryside, which provides an important gap between Onehouse and Stowmarket, the loss of which would result in a reduction of the gap between the settlements, where the development would not materially enhance or maintain the vitality of the rural community and by reason of overdevelopment result in further harm to the countryside and important gap between settlements.
The proposal would be contrary to Local Plan Policies H7, Core Strategy CS1, CS2 and CS5. However, these are not considered to be up to date in this instance, given the location of the site on the edge of Stowmarket.
The tilted balance is thus engaged, but the proposal results in harm to the countryside, and reduction in gap between settlements, which harm significantly and demonstrably outweighs the benefits of this proposal.
As such the proposal is not acceptable in principle, being contrary to paragraphs 8 and 11 of the NPPF (2021), Policy H7 of the Mid Suffolk Local Plan (1998), Policies CS1, CS2 and CS5 of the Core Strategy (2008) and Policy FC1 and FC1.1 of the Core Strategy Focused Review (2012).
Supporting documents: