Agenda item

Land at the rear of The Brambles, Lower Moor Road, Coleorton

Land at the rear of The Brambles, Lower Moor Road, Coleorton

Officer’s recommendation: Permit

The Principal Planning Officer presented the report.

Siobhan Dillon, speaking on behalf of Coleorton Parish Council, addressed the Committee. She raised concerns about the increasing urbanisation in the area and stated that the strong agricultural character of Coleorton would have been affected by the development. She urged the Committee to refuse the application.

Hannah Walters-Graham, speaking as an objector, addressed the Committee. She noted that similar proposals had been refused by the Planning Inspectorate as part of appeals and urged the Committee to refuse the application on the grounds raised by the Inspectorate - that it was contrary to policies S2, S3, En34B and HE1 of the Local Plan. She added that there was a lack of public services in Coleorton to support the development, and that the applicant was exploiting the need for self-build properties.

Oliver Patrick, speaking on behalf of The Community Communications Partnership (The CCP), addressed the Committee. He highlighted that the development met the requirements of the National Planning Policy Framework (the NPPF), and that the developer had taken the Planning Inspectorate’s concerns on board as part of this new application. He commented that the development would have provided opportunities and homes for local people. The Committee were urged to approve the application.

Councillor R Boam, speaking as the ward member, addressed the Committee. He expressed support for the application and stated that it had been reduced in size and adhered to self-build policies. He reminded members that the application was in principle only, and that any technical details would have been looked at the next stage.

The Principal Planning Officer noted that there were bus stops along a nearby road that were within a reasonable walking distance of the site, and this had been noted by previous inspectors. He reminded members that it was a Permission in Principle (PIP) application and that technical details could not be taken into account at this stage.

During discussion, several questions of clarity were addressed by the planning officers. Members stated that, while the number of dwellings would have helped meet the Council’s quota, the density of the dwellings was not suitable and would be detrimental to the landscape context and character of Coleorton. Concerns were raised about the number of proposed dwellings, as well as the negative impact the development would have had on the nearby scenery and residential amenity.

Councillor R Canny moved that the application be refused on the grounds that it conflicted with policies S2 and S3 of the Local Plan, it was outside the limits of development, and that it the development would be detrimental to the landscape context and character of Coleorton. It was seconded by Councillor J Legrys and

RESOLVED THAT:

The application be refused on the grounds that it was outside the limits of development, conflicted with policies S2 and S3 of the Local Plan, and that the development would be detrimental to the landscape context and character of Coleorton.

Councillor R Boam returned to take the chair for the remainder of the meeting.