Agenda item

Land At Wells Road And Willesley Road Ashby De La Zouch Leicestershire LE65 2QD

The Senior Planning Officer presented the report to Members.

Councillor M Tuckey, on behalf of Ashby Town Council, addressed the Committee. She highlighted to Members the Town Council’s objections. She stated that the development was not is accordance to the NPPF and not sustainable. She informed Members that there were no shops within walking distance, that the local schools were full and the area had been given a landscape quality of 9 which was the highest in the area and if the application was permitted, the beauty would be destroyed. She reminded Members that the Committee had previously refused the application and urged them to take the reasons into consideration.

Mr D Trunkfield, objector, addressed the Committee. He advised that the key objections were as before. He informed Members that the site was un-sustainable and impacted on the landscape. He highlighted that when the application was previously refused it was a unanimous vote and the application had many similarities to the Packington Nook application that had also been refused. He stated to Members that the key services were further away than stated and officers should have advised them that the site was outside the Limits to Development. He urged the Committee to refuse the application.

Ms H Guy, agent, addressed the Committee. She advised Members that the applicants fully supported the officer’s recommendation and highlighted that there were no technical reasons for refusing the application. She informed the Committee that there would be 12 affordable homes on the site, that a hard surface cycle track would be provided and provision for a children’s play area and public open space. 

Councillor J G Coxon moved that the application be refused on the grounds that the development was not sustainable and it was outside the Limits to Development. It was seconded by Councillor G Jones.

Councillor G Jones raised concerns that the site was not sustainable under the 2002 Local Plan and should be refused on the same grounds that the Lower Packington Road and Shellbrook applications were. He added that the development would not be consistent with the appearance of the rest of the town.

Councillor J Legrys expressed concerns that it was the third time that the application had been in front of Members and sought clarification that it was legal to do so and if it was legal was it moral.

The Legal Advisor confirmed that it was lawful as under section 70  of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 an application must be determined when it is put before committee and reminded Members that they should make their decision based on the facts before them.

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

For the motion:

Councillors R Adams, G A Allman, R Canny, J Cotterill, J G Coxon, J Hoult, R Johnson, G Jones, J Legrys, V Richichi, D J Stevenson and M B Wyatt (12).

Against the motion:

Councillors J Bridges, R Boam, D Everitt, D Harrison, and M Specht (5).

Abstentions:

(0).

The motion was CARRIED.

RESOLVED THAT:

The application be refused on the grounds that it was outside the limits to development and it was unsustainable.