Agenda item

Land South Of Normanton Road Packington Ashby De La Zouch 

The Planning and Development Team Manager presented the report to Members.

Parish Councillor C Miles addressed the Committee and listed the following objections:

-   The application was on a Greenfield site.

-   It was outside the limits to Development.

-   The proposal was not sustainable.

-   There was already a healthy five year land supply.

-   The development was not plan led.

He concluded that there was already enough development in the area and therefore urged Members to refuse the application.

 Ms A Walters, objector, addressed the Committee.  She explained that she was a planning solicitor who had been appointed by the residents of Packington to represent them.  She listed the following objections to the application:

-   The proposal was contrary to Policy S3.

-   The development would be harmful to Packington House.

-   There would be a loss of countryside and agricultural land.

-   The application did not sit well with the NPPF.

-   The scale of the development was too large.

-   There had been an overwhelming objection from local residents.

-   The Council would be at risk from judicial review.

Mr J Steedman, agent, addressed the Committee.  He said that, the concern about the relative increase in the size of the settlement was no longer so great now that the first application had been refused. .  With regards to the site being outside the limits to development, he commented that the policy was 13 years old and therefore was not relevant.

The Head of Planning and Regeneration explained that a large number of objectors was not a planning consideration and clarified once again that the District Council had 6.08 years housing land supply which included a buffer of 20 percent but there was still a need to maintain a five year housing land supply.

Councillor N Smith moved that the application be refused on the grounds that it was outside the limits to development.  It was seconded by Councillor J Legrys.

Councillor N Smith commented that there had been many planning applications submitted on the site for many years and every one had been refused.  He stated that the Parish Council did support development in Packington but not this particular application.  He could not find any reason to permit the application.

Councillor J Legrys agreed that that application was outside the limits of development and supported Councillor N Smith.

The Head of Planning and Regeneration advised Members, if minded to refuse the application, to consider whether to add that the development was harmful to the landscape and setting of Packington.  This was agreed.

Councillor J Hoult expressed that he was concerned because he believed that if the application went to an appeal the Council would lose and it would cost a lot of money.

Councillor M Specht commented that he could remember when Packington was more of a hamlet than a village and developments had been built over the years to ensure that future generations could stay in the village, this application was no different.  He was strongly against the refusal of the application.

Councillor D Everitt commented that he supported the application as it was a more acceptable site and all villages needed to take their share of new houses.  He concurred with Councillor M Specht as there was a need for new homes in the area so people could stay in the village.

Councillor J Legrys having requested a recorded vote, the vote was as follows:

For the motion:

Councillors R Boam, R Canny, J Cotterill, J Coxon, J Legrys, N Smith and M B Wyatt (7).

Against the motion:

Councillors G A Allman, J Bridges, D Everitt, J Geary, D Harrison, J Hoult, R Johnson, G Jones, M Specht and D J Stevenson (10).

Abstentions:

(0).

The motion was LOST.

The Chairman then put the officer’s recommendation to permit to the vote.

RESOLVED THAT:

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