Minutes:
24.1 Item 6B
Application DC/21/06519
Proposal Planning Application – Construction of 41no. Retirement Living apartments for older persons including communal facilities, access, car parking and associated landscaping. Conversion and restoration of Belle Vue House to form 2no. dwellings (following partial demolition)
Site Location SUDBURY – Belle Vue House & Old Swimming Pool, Newton Road, Sudbury, CO10 2RG
Applicant Churchill Retirement Living Ltd
24.2 A break was taken from 13:03pm until 13:42pm after application number DC/22/00985 and before the commencement of application number DC/21/06519.
24.3 The Case Officer introduced the application to the Committee outlining the proposal before Members including: the recommendation of refusal by Sudbury Town Council, the location and layout of the site, the history of the site, proposed access to the site, the proposed parking plans, appearance, design and internal layout of the retirement apartments, the proposed drainage strategy and landscaping plans, amenity space, and the officer recommendation of approval as detailed in the report.
24.4 The Chief Planning Officer advised Members of a proposed amendment to the Section 106 agreement to include the requirement for the occupation of the 41no. retirement apartments to be occupied by persons over 55 years old, and their dependants.
24.5 The Case Officer and the Chief Planning Officer responded to questions from Members on issues including: emergency vehicle access, the lack of affordable housing units, any Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) contribution, and the financial viability of the scheme.
24.6 The Chief Planning Officer and the Planning Lawyer provided clarification to Members regarding the definition of public open space, mixed use and brownfields sites, and how these classifications relate to the site.
24.7 Members considered the representation from Ellen Murphy who spoke on behalf of Sudbury Town Council.
24.8 The Town Council Representative responded to questions from Members on issues including: the length of time that the site has been in its current condition, the need for retirement properties in Sudbury, and whether the Town Council would be happy for Belle Vue House to be renovated.
24.9 Members considered the representation from Laura Knight who spoke as an Objector.
24.10 Following a question from Members the Governance Officer confirmed the details of the petition which had been received.
24.11 The Objector, the Chief Planning Officer and the Planning Lawyer responded to questions from Members on issues including: the definition of public open space and mixed use land and these applied to this application.
24.12 Members considered the representation from Lisa Matthewson who spoke as the Agent.
24.13 The Agent and the applicant, John McElholm, responded to questions from Members on issues including: the contributions paid by the developer at other development sites, the completion of a housing needs survey, whether the scheme would include on site support for residents, the timescales for delivery of the scheme and how this would coincide with the development of Belle Vue House, whether a new co-developer would become involved, the expected number of occupants, any consultation undertaken with local residents, ecological issues, the proposed design and size of the retirement units, and the timeline for completion of works on Belle Vue House.
24.14 A break was taken from 15:25pm until 15:39pm.
24.15 The Planning Lawyer advised that due to some information received by the Planning Lawyer and the Monitoring Officer during the break in proceedings, a resolution would need be passed to exclude the press and public in order that Members may receive legal advice in private.
24.16 Councillor Holt proposed the resolution and Councillor McCraw seconded.
By a vote of 10 votes for and 1 against
It was RESOLVED:
That pursuant to Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting on the ground that if the public were present during this item, it is likely that there would be the disclosure to them of exempt information.
24.17 Following the readmittance of the press and public, the Planning Lawyer and the Monitoring Officer advised Members to adjourn the meeting to enable procedural irregularities to be investigated following a possible breach of the Planning Charter.
24.18 Councillor Holt proposed that the meeting be adjourned. Councillor Busby seconded the motion.
By a vote of 10 votes for and 1 against
It was RESOLVED:
That the meeting be adjourned and the remaining business be deferred to another appropriate meeting of the Planning Committee.
Supporting documents: