To receive a report of the Head of Planning, Economy and Regeneration with regard to this application.
Minutes:
The Committee had before it * report of the Head of Planning, Economy and Regeneration regarding the above application.
The Area Planning Officer outlined the contents of the report highlighting by way of presentation the location of the application which identified the sports pitch (which would be delayed until phase 2 of the development), the aerial view of the site, the access onto Willand Road and the land identified for employment use (at phase 2), an illustrative plan, the green buffer zone on the hill top, photographs from various locations looking into the site and visual assessment plans.
Consideration was given to:
· The view of the representative of the applicant with regard to the work that had taken place to bring the application forward, the masterplanning exercise and the consultation process that had taken place; the delivery of the link road and the provision of land for the school and the delivery of the school. The contribution requested for the Cullompton relief road. The additional costs and contributions had led to the reduction in affordable housing being provided and the further request for the provision of a footway on Millenium Way.
· The view of the Ward Member with regard to: the Millenium Sluice which was built by the Environment Agency to divert water in times of flood. Unfortunately, in practice it has behaved as somewhat of a dam and Cullompton Mill Leat has been starved of its previous level of water supply for many years. No amount of complaints to EA, MP or Ministers by either the Leat Board or Town Council have ever been able to resolve the problem. Currently St Georges Well stream feeds into the leat downstream from this sluice. Because the water supply to the leat is now so poor, the water which enters from St Georges Well catchment is quite precious in assisting to maintain the water level, flow and the amenity and ecological value of the leat. The reports are all concerned with prevention flood risk, which is absolutely as it should be. However the other side is not considered and she would like an assurance that steps will be taken to ensure that the current flows into the leat from St Georges Well stream catchment will not be reduced and also flows further upstream which contribute to the Spratford Stream. she wondered what effect all the ponds would have on the amount of water getting through to the watercourses which frequently already flow at very low levels?
She referred to
Page 39 – culvert to reduce flooding on B3181
Page 51 – did this mean we will continue to have flooding issues north of Willand Rd/Millenium Way roundabout? Surely land ownership issues can be overcome if it’s infrastructure which is needed to prevent flooding on this road?
Page 59 – pleased to see an inspection regime for the attenuation pond construction, from problems we have had in the past this is really important.
Concern with regard the 10% affordable housing proposed, the width of the new road and people parking outside of the dwellings which would have an impact on traffic passing through the site and whether a contribution should have been sought for the relief road.
RESOLVED that outline planning permission be granted subject to the prior signing of a Section 106 agreement and conditions as recommended by the Head of Planning, Economy and Regeneration.
(Proposed by the Chairman)
Notes:
i) Mr Turner, representative for the applicant, spoke;
ii) Cllr Mrs N Woollatt as Ward Member;
iii) Cllr Mrs E M Andrews spoke as an adjacent Ward Member;
iv) The following late information was reported: Further response from South West Water dated 12th April 2019
As a result of changes to our charging policy introduced in April this year which has increased the connection charges in relation to new developments any improvements required to upgrade our infrastructure are to be funded by South West Water and not developers.
In view of this the request for planning conditions as stated in my response to the application are no longer required as improvements to the foul drainage network will be delivered by South West Water to ensure the development can be supported without detriment to the public foul drainage systems.
Condition 23 should therefore be deleted.
Condition 1: The word “access” should be removed from the second line of the condition. This was included in error. Access from the public highway is to be determined under this application.
Condition 18: At the request of the applicant, the first line of the condition should be amended as follows:
“No dwelling part of the development hereby
approved shall be commenced until:”
The Highway Authority has agreed this change and your officers consider this amendment to be reasonable.
Condition 20: At the request of the applicant, the condition should be amended as follows:
No
development above slab level shall take place shall commence
until a scheme for electric vehicle charging points has been
submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning
Authority. The electric vehicle
charging points shall be installed in accordance with the approved
scheme prior to first occupation of the relevant
dwelling.
Again, your officers consider this amendment to be reasonable.
16th April 2019 – Amended recommendation
Recommendation:
Grant permission subject to conditions and the prior signing of a S106 agreement.
v) *Report previously circulated copy attached to signed minutes.
Supporting documents: