Decision details

The Cabinet had before it a * report of the Head of Planning, Economy and Regeneration informing Members of the outcome of the Area B Stage 1 Public Consultation event, seeking guidance on the key issues detailed in the report and also seeking approval to engage consultants to progress the production of the Draft Area B Masterplan.

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration outlined the contents of the report highlighting the phases of masterplanning for the 2 phases for the urban extension.  He explained via an illustrative plan Area A to the north and west of the site which had been masterplanned in detail for the first phase of development, this had left the land to the south and east (Area B) to be further masterplanned when the land became available.

He explained the stage 1 public consultation that had taken place in the summer and the key masterplan issues which had formed the basis for consultation:

•      Means of access

•      Phasing of development

•      Extent of developable area / amount of development

•      The uses within the green infrastructure area, where these different green infrastructure uses were to be located and their management.

•      Content / scope of the masterplan

The means of access to the site had been the most contentious and he outlined the opportunities and constraints for each option:

·         Continue to gain access from Area A as currently proposed (adopted SPD)

·         Two way access from Mayfair

·         Two way access from Manley Lane

·         Access via Mayfair and egress via Manley Lane; and

·         Access via Manley Lane and egress via Mayfair

He outlined the phasing of development proposed, the extent of development area, the area for green infrastructure, the Area B masterplan content in relation to the adopted masterplan supplementary planning document and the provisional timetable for the masterplanning exercise.

He informed the meeting of the views put forward by the Planning Policy Advisory Group when it had considered the outcomes of the consultation process.  The Group’s main concern was the public response to the access to the site through Mayfair or via Manley Lane/Post Hill Junction and had recommended that if an alternative access  via Area A was required, that different options be considered but that these not include access via Mayfair or Manley Lane.

Consideration was then given to the key questions within the report:

·         Access - concern was raised regarding any access either permanent or temporary to the site via Mayfair or Manley Lane/Post Hill junction and any possible delays in the programme which could be caused by having access only from Area A

·         Development south of West Manley Lane (within Area A), concerns were raised with regard to development of the area of land to the south of West Manley Lane (which had been adopted as part of the original masterplanning exercise) and the fact that the Planning Committee had requested a revision to the outline planning application with regard to development in this area to exclude it from that application.

·         The location of the green infrastructure between the residential development and the Grand Western Canal, Members were keen that the green infrastructure buffer to the south of the site remain, however development with regard to sports and recreation, allotments and communal orchards were acceptable.

It was therefore:

RESOLVED that:

a)     The masterplanning of Area B of the Tiverton Eastern Urban Extension be progressed with the engagement of consultants to assist in the production of the Draft Masterplan.

(Proposed by Cllr R J Chesterton and seconded by Cllr C R Slade)

b)     The proposed scope of the masterplan set out in section 3 be agreed.

(Proposed by Cllr R J Chesterton and seconded by Cllr P H D Hare-Scott)

c)     Subject to acceptable planning impacts, alternative access arrangements  be considered that do not include Mayfair and/or the Manley Lane/Post Hill Junction

(Proposed by Cllr C R Slade and seconded by Cllr R J Chesterton)

d)     The phasing of the Area B masterplan should relate just to Area B in the acknowledgement of the need to complete the A361 junction and the access constraints into Area B and that the phasing of the land parcels should be considered in relation to the delivery of community and green infrastructure within Area B.

 (Proposed by Cllr C R Slade and seconded by Cllr Mrs M E Squires)

e)     (i) The proposed Area B masterplan should consider the amount of development.

(ii) There should be no development south of West Manley Lane unless in association with green infrastructure uses

(Proposed by Cllr C R Slade and seconded by Cllr R L Stanley)

(f) The green infrastructure proposals be considered once the masterplanning had commenced.

(Proposed by Cllr R J Chesterton and seconded by Cllr C R Slade)

It was FURTHER RESOLVED that a report be considered at a subsequent meeting outlining the options available to Members with regard to land south of West Manley Lane within Area A of the Tiverton Eastern Urban Extension.

(Proposed by Cllr R L Stanley and seconded by Cllr C R Slade)

Note:  * Report previously circulated, copy attached to minutes.