Minutes:
15.1 Item 6A
Application DC/20/00330
Proposal Outline Planning Application (Access to be considered all other matters reserved) - Erection of up to 64no. dwellings and provision of land for a community building (Use Class D1)
Site Location BOXFORD - Land to the East of Sand Hill, Boxford, CO10 5AD
Applicant Catesby Development Land Limited
15.2 The Case Officer presented the application to the Committee outlining the proposal before Members including: the history of applications on the site, the judicial review brought against the previous original decision, the Boxford Neighbourhood Plan, the highways consultation response from SWECO, the location of the site, the constraints of the site, the illustrative masterplan, the proposed access to the site, the indicative parameter plan, the proposed highway works, the potential impact of increased traffic on Swan Street, and the Officer’s recommendation for refusal.
15.3 The Case Officer responded to questions from Members on issues including: the current housing need in Boxford, the need for affordable housing, the judicial review brought against the original decision, the financial contribution towards secondary education, the proximity of the site to existing schools, the location of the proposed parking bays on Ellis Street, and the committee site visit undertaken for a previous application on the site.
15.4 Members considered the representation from Lisa Wortley who spoke on behalf of Boxford Parish Council.
15.5 The Parish Council representative responded to questions from Members on issues including: conversations between the applicant and the parish council, the impact of growth within the village on Swan Street, the current amount of affordable housing in Boxford, the frequency of farm vehicles travelling through Boxford, and the Boxford Neighbourhood Plan.
15.6 The Case Officer and the Area Planning Manager responded to further questions from Members on issues including: Boxford’s Neighbourhood Plan, the Housing Strategy for Boxford, and the policy reasons for the Officer’s recommendation for refusal.
15.7 Members considered the representation from Chris Philbedge who spoke as an Objector.
15.8 The Objector responded to questions from Members on issues including: the lack of community facilities as part of the proposed application.
15.9 Members considered the representation from David Morris who spoke as the Applicant.
15.10 The Applicant responded to questions from Members on issues including: the proposed highway improvements for Ellis Street, conversations between the applicant and the parish council, and the consultation response from highways.
15.11 Members considered the representation from Councillor Bryn Hurren who spoke as the Ward Member.
15.12 The Ward Member responded to questions from Members on issues including: the current amount of affordable housing in Boxford, the connectivity between Ellis Street and Swan Street, agricultural land within Boxford and its suitability for development, and the potential impact of future developments in Boxford on Swan Street.
15.13 Members debated the application on issues including: the highways consultation response from SWECO, the potential impact on Swan Street and Ellis Street, and the Boxford Neighbourhood Plan.
15.14 Councillor McCraw proposed that the application be refused as detailed in the Officer recommendation.
15.15 Councillor Hinton seconded the proposal.
By a vote of 10 For and 1 Against
It was RESOLVED:
That the application is REFUSED planning permission for the following reason:
1. The proposal would be contrary to policies CS2, CS11 and CS15 the Babergh Core Strategy (2014), policy BOX 4 of the emerging Boxford Neighbourhood Plan and paragraphs 110d) and 111 of the NPPF. The scheme would result in an unacceptable and severe impact on the highway network and its users without an acceptable mitigating solution. There would be a severe and unacceptable impact on one of the main roads within Boxford (Swan Street) by way of increasing the risk of incidents without acceptable mitigation.
Supporting documents: