Minutes:
117.1 Due to the large amount of tabled papers associated with the application the Chair allowed Members extra time to consider the representations before the commencement of the item.
117.2 Item 1
Application DC/18/02010
Proposal Planning Application. Residential Development of 54 dwellings with new vehicular access from Bramford Road, (B113), associated parking, landscaping and open space.
Site Location SPROUGHTON- Land on the East Side of, Bramford Road, Sproughton, Suffolk.
Applicant Hopkins Homes
117.2 The Case Officer presented the application to the Committee outlining the proposal before Members, the layout of the site, the content of the tabled papers (which included an updated officer recommendation) and the officer recommendation of approval with conditions.
117.3 Members considered the representation from Helen Davies of Sproughton Parish Council who spoke against the application.
117.4 Members considered the representation from Rhona Jermyn who spoke as an Objector.
117.5 Members considered the representation from Martyn Levett who spoke as an Objector.
117.6 The Objectors responded to Members’ questions on issues including: the Sproughton Working Group and that it was not part of the Parish Council, the scale of the developments in the Gipping Valley and the amount of housing proposed within the village and the surrounding area.
117.7 Members considered the representation from Paul Sutton who spoke as the Agent on behalf of the Applicant.
117.8 The Agent responded to Members’ questions on issues including: how quickly work could start on the site if Members were minded to approve the application, the impact on the listed buildings in the area, the identified need in the area, and the proposed footpath links.
117.9 Members considered the representation from Councillor Christopher Hudson, Suffolk County Council Ward Member.
117.10 The County Councillor responded to Members’ questions on issues including: the strategic aims of the County Council with regards to housing, the sustainability of the proposal, and the current highways issues.
117.11 Members considered the representation from Councillor Nick Ridley, Ward Member.
117.12 Members debated the application on the issues including: the current status of policy CS2, the harm to the heritage asset, the updated flood zones as provided by the Environment Agency.
117.13 The Planning Lawyer advised Members that the decision maker had a special duty to pay with regard to the harm to heritage assets and the weight that Members associated with it.
117.14 The Area Planning Manager advised Members that the Council had been consistent in its approach to CS11.
117.15 Members continued to debate the application on the issues including: the number of affordable homes on the site, the current highways situation in Sproughton, the strategic allocations in the area, that there was no neighbourhood plan, the weight of Policy CS11 and the locally identified need in Sproughton.
117.16 Councillor Lee Parker proposed that the application be refused for the reasons as detailed below:
· The proposed development is considered to lead to a medium level of less than substantial harm to the setting of the Grade II listed buildings of Sproughton Hall, Root Barn and Tithe Barn and the Grade II* listed All Saints Church in Sproughton, which is not considered to respect the features that contribute positively to the setting of these listed buildings, conflicting with Babergh Local Plan (2006) policy CN06, and not respect the heritage characteristics of the village or historic views of heritage assets contrary to Babergh Core Strategy and Policies (2014) policies CS11 and CS15. Further to this, the public benefits of the scheme, namely the housing, affordable housing, net gain for biodiversity on the site, are not considered to outweigh this harm, making the proposal contrary to paragraph 196 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2019
117.17 Councillor David Busby seconded the motion.
117.18 RESOLVED
Members resolved to refuse the Application for the reasons below:
The proposed development is considered to lead to a medium level of less than substantial harm to the setting of the Grade II listed buildings of Sproughton Hall, Root Barn and Tithe Barn and the Grade II* listed All Saints Church in Sproughton, which is not considered to respect the features that contribute positively to the setting of these listed buildings, conflicting with Babergh Local Plan (2006) policy CN06, and not respect the heritage characteristics of the village or historic views of heritage assets contrary to Babergh Core Strategy and Policies (2014) policies CS11 and CS15. Further to this, the public benefits of the scheme, namely the housing, affordable housing, net gain for biodiversity on the site, are not considered to outweigh this harm, making the proposal contrary to paragraph 196 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2019
After the completion of the formal agenda the Chair thanked the Area Planning Manager Gemma Pannell for her service to the Council as she was leaving to join the Planning Inspectorate.
The Chair also gave special thanks to Councillors Ray Smith, Jennie Jenkins and David Rose who were not seeking re-election.
Supporting documents: