Decision details

The Senior Planning Officer presented the report to Members.

Mr C Miles, Parish Councillor, addressed the Committee. He advised that the development would be located outside the village boundary and if permitted, combined with the previous application it would lead to a 25% increase in houses. He stated that the Core Strategy had recommended that over 25 years the district should provide 130 dwellings across the 17 villages. He felt that had the Local Development Framework been in place, the application would not have been brought to Committee. He expressed concerns that it was large development on a greenfield site, that was not planned.

Mr P Harley, objector, addressed the Committee. He advised that he had lived in his home for one year and was surrounded by applications. He expressed concerns over the increase in traffic that the development would generate, with an average of 2 vehicles per house which would all be heading to the other side of the village. He stated that he would look forward to the development of the village, providing it was in the right location, but felt that on this occasion the democratic planning process had been ignored.

Mr J Steedman, agent, addressed the Committee. He stated that the settlement would provide a solution to the demand for new housing in the district and would help the area to thrive. He advised that all technical matters had been addressed and the frontage would be an attractive gateway to the village.

Councillor Richichi stated that his views on the application where the same as the previous application. He advised that should the application be approved then conditions would be required to protect the village. He therefore moved to refuse the application. It was seconded by Councillor M B Wyatt.

Councillor T Neilson stated that the application has to be considered through the National Planning Policy Framework and had tied the Committee’s hands. He advised that he could not see a reason for refusal, therefore would be voting to permit.

Councillor J Legrys stated that he would be voting for refusal as before and felt that the application had additional issues. He felt that the development was out of character for the village and shared sympathy for the speakers, in agreeing that there was no democratic process in planning. He stated that the development was outside the limits, and that he had concerns over flooding and the impact on the highways.

Councillor G Jones stated that the application had come as there was a shortage of housing in the area and added that he would like to see bungalows built as affordable housing.

The motion to refuse was put to the vote and was LOST.

The officer’s recommendation was moved by Councillor M Specht, seconded by Councillor G Jones and

RESOLVED THAT:

The application be permitted in accordance with the recommendation of the Head of Regeneration and Planning.