Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence and notices of appointment of substitute.

Apologies were received from Cllr E J Berry who was substituted by Cllr R F Radford.

To receive any questions relating to items on the Agenda from members of the public and replies thereto.

Note:   A maximum of 30 minutes is allowed for this item.

Mr Rowe referring to Item 1 (Westcott Park) on the Plans List outlined his application, the various officers he had dealt with and the advice received.  He highlighted a successful appeal on the site and the views of the inspector and asked: why have Mid Devon planning changed their stance on fully supporting my application to now recommending it for refusal?

The Chairman indicated that an answer would be provided when the application was considered.

To record any interests on agenda matters.

The following declarations were made:

Cllrs: S J Clist, Mrs F J Colthorpe, L J Cruwys, Mrs C P Daw, C J Eginton, P J Heal, B Holdman, D J Knowles, F W Letch, R F Radford and B G J Warren made declarations in accordance with the Protocol of Good Practice for Councillors dealing with planning matters as they had received correspondence with regard to application 21/02137/MFUL (Westcott Park).

To consider whether to approve the minutes as a correct record of the meeting held on 2 February 2022.

The minutes of the meeting held on 2 February were agreed as a true record and duly signed by the Chairman.

         To receive any announcements the Chairman may wish to make. 

The Chairman had the following announcements to make:

·         He welcomed Cllrs B Holdman and D J Knowles back to the committee

·         He reminded Members that a special meeting of the committee would be held on Wednesday 16 March.

To report any items appearing in the  Plans List which have been deferred.           

There were no deferrals from the Plans List.

To consider the planning applications contained in the list.

The Committee considered the applications on the *Plans List

Note: *List previously circulated and attached to the minutes.

a)    Application 21/02137/FULL – Erection of 21 dwellings with associated open space, landscaping and infrastructure – land and buildings at NGR 302094 104175 (Westcott Park) Westcott.

The Planning Officer outlined the application by way of a presentation highlighting the location of the site and an aerial view which provided context of the location of the site with the town of Cullompton; he explained that Westcott was not highlighted as a settlement within the Local Plan. 

He then set out the complex planning history of the site stating that a series of conversions had been permitted in 2019 and that two further applications for ‘Permission in Principle’ had been proposed which included 5 dwellings as a rural exception site which had been refused but granted at appeal and in 2021, 6 self-build properties that had been granted on the site.

Members were able to view the spatial site plan which identified the permissions granted and the fall-back position was explained. The site was not within the settlement limit but in open countryside, the scheme was not providing an exception level of affordable housing and the site was deemed to be unsustainable given that it fell outside the settlement boundary of the Local Plan.

In response to the question posed in public question time, the officer stated that he had tried to work with the applicant and suggestions had been made so that the fall-back position could be used.

Members also considered plans for the proposed 21 dwellings (12 market houses and 9 affordable dwellings), the proposed house type and the proposals for open space and viewed photographs from various aspects of the site.

Consideration was given to: The views of the agent for the application who outlined the merits of the proposal, the pre-application advice received, the series of applications and confirmation that the proposed 21 dwellings would override the previous applications which in their opinion would limit 21 dwellings on the site.  He highlighted the areas of open space, the residential garden, the design of the low carbon dwellings and stated that in his view the development was not unsustainable and within a settlement.

Discussion took place with regard to:

·         Access to the site

·         The history of the site and the applications that had been considered

·         The number of dwellings proposed  which may include revocation of the previous 21 dwellings

·         The number of dwellings in Westcott

It was therefore:

RESOLVED that planning permission be refused as recommended by the Interim Development Management Manager.

(Proposed by Cllr L J Cruwys and seconded by Cllr Mrs F J Colthorpe)

Notes:

i)                     Cllr S J Clist requested that his abstention from voting be recorded;

ii)                    Mr Rogers spoke as agent to the application;

iii)                   The following late information was provided: Officers are aware that the applicant has provided Members of the Planning Committee with a positon statement. Officers will respond to this during the verbal  ...  view the full minutes text for item 163.

List attached for consideration of major applications and potential site visits.

The Committee had before it, and NOTED, a *list of major applications with no decision.

It was agreed that:

·         Application 22/00338/MOUT – 43 Dwellings, Cummings Nursery, Culm Lea, Cullompton be determined by the Planning Committee and that a site visit take place.

·         Application 22/00067/MFUL – 18 dwellings and 4 commercial buildings – Wellparks, Exeter Road, Crediton be determined by the Planning Committee and that a site visit take place.

Note: *list previously circulated and attached to the minutes.

To receive for information a list of recent appeal decisions.

The Committee had before it, and NOTED, a *list of appeal decisions

Noted: *List previously circulated and attached to the minutes.