Agenda item

Land North East Of Atherstone Road Measham Swadlincote Derby DE12 7EL

The Principal Planning Officer presented the report to Members.

Ms C French, agent, addressed the meeting.  She reminded Members that David Wilson had an excellent record for development in the District and they had worked with officers, local residents and the Parish Council to get the design of the proposal right.  She explained that the proposal had received a ‘Building for Life’ accreditation and provided 23 affordable homes, improved footpath links, utilisation of a sustainable drainage system, traffic calming measure improvements and ecological benefits.  She concluded that the site was sustainable and as there were no technical objections the proposals were acceptable.  She urged Members to approve the application in line with the officer’s recommendations.

Councillor T Neilson stated he had attended Parish Council meetings where the application had been discussed originally and, along with local residents, still had the following concerns:

-     the Bosworth Road development has no affordable housing even though David Wilson promised 30 percent.  This could happen on this site.

-     the site is outside the limits of development and as a large number of houses had already been built in the area this application was unnecessary. 

-     officers have stated that the site was ‘reasonably’ accessible which was not good enough as there was not a bus service after 6pm and although a footpath was proposed, it would be out of character for the area due to the hard standing appearance.

Councillor T Neilson moved that the application be refused on the grounds that the site was not accessible as it was too far from the nearest centre and the footpath was out of character for the area.  It was seconded by Councillor J Legrys.

Councillor S Sheahan raised concerns regarding the failed promise for affordable homes at the Bosworth Road Site and how that may be repeated for this development.  He was also aware that the main road was very busy and could be difficult to cross to access the shops.  He asked that if the application was approved, the conditions be amended to include a third set of speed humps at the junction of Wordsworth Way.

Councillor J Legrys felt that the application was premature until the Council set the limits of development and therefore supported refusal.

Councillor M Specht stated that he was firmly against refusal of the application.  He felt that the site was very sustainable as it was a ten minute walk away from local schools, church and shopping centre.  He also felt that the proposed footpath was acceptable as formal hard standing was needed.

The Chairman reiterated previous comments as in his opinion it was an ideal site for development.  Councillor J G Coxon agreed and supported the officer’s recommendations.

The Head of Planning and Regeneration clarified that the application site was a Greenfield site that was outside the limits of development.  He also stated that the draft limits of development were currently being consulted on but that consultation was part of the overall Local Plan. He confirmed that, because the draft limits to development had no formal status, they do not carry significant ‘weight’ in deciding the planning application.

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

The Chairman put the officer’s recommendation to the vote with the amended condition to include a third set of speed humps on Atherstone Road at the junction with Wordsworth Way.

RESOLVED THAT:

The application be permitted in accordance with the recommendations of the Head of Planning and Regeneration, with the amended condition to include a third set of speed humps on Atherstone Road at the junction with Wordsworth Way.