MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMITTEE HELD ON WEDNESDAY 13TH JULY 2011 AT 7.05PM IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, SIMPSON CENTRE, STOTFOLD

Committee Members present:A Cooper (Chairman)

Mrs S BundockMrs M Cooper

B DackS Dhaliwal

S HayesT Naisbitt

Mrs C Turner

Also present:Marcus Lambert & Peter Big (architect) of Taylor Wimpey, Councillors Mrs Clarey and Saunders, and the Clerk

6277.APOLOGIES

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Collier and Smith.

6278.DISCLOSURE OF MEMBERS INTERESTS

Councillor Hayes declared an interest in the Executive Action item relating to comments for an application at 60 High Street, as he is an immediate neighbour. Members were reminded that if at any time during the meeting they feel they have an interest in an item being discussed, they should declare it at that point.

6279.PRESENTATION ON PROPOSALSFORLAND AT TAYLORS ROAD

Marcus Lambert gave a presentation on proposals for Land at Taylors Road, pursuant to outline permission 07/01762/OUT for residential and commercial development.

The proposals are as follows:

  • The development to consist of 139 houses and apartments and B1 offices.
  • Will have be a Super Local Area for Play as a central feature, comprising 150sqm activity area and 10m buffers. An off site contribution will also be made to Central Beds Council towards the enhancement of the play equipment at The Green.
  • Will be a mix of 2 bed apartments, 2, 3, 4, and 5 bed houses.
  • 38 dwellings will be affordable housing, which is a 28% provision, and will be 50% social and 50% shared equity.
  • Will be four 2 bed wheelchair disability affordable bungalows.
  • Will be 0.88ha of commercial land to the south and 3.22ha for residential.
  • A buffer of six commercial B1 office units situated between existing commercial and proposed residential. Access to B1 offices will be via residential development.
  • Parking ratio conforms to standard for residential and B1 office.
  • Good size amenity provided for houses and apartments.
  • Dwellings will be 1, 2 and 2.5 storey across the site. B1 offices will not exceed 2 storeys in height.
  • Site density will be approximately 43 dwellings per hectare.
  • Landscaped boundaries/buffer to open countryside maintained and enhanced.
  • Public footpath FP7 to south of site will remain unaltered. Development will link to this footpath in south east corner to provide easy pedestrian access to village centre and The Green recreation ground.
  • Character of development is ‘Victorian Rural’, as previously discussed with Central Beds Planning Officers.
  • Reserved Matters application is due to be submitted in August 2011.

Outline of the S106 Agreement is as follows:

  • 28% affordable housing (50% social and 50% shared equity).
  • Cycling and walking strategy contribution based on adopted formula.
  • Education contribution £5,540 per unit.
  • IvelValley Project Contribution of £500 per unit.
  • Library contribution of £62.40 per unit.
  • Sporting open space contribution of £192 per unit.
  • Public transport contribution of £450.86 per unit.
  • Provision of 0.88ha of employment land and 3.22ha of residential land.

Concerns were expressed over the location of the play area at the head of the main entrance into the site, and of the width and type of roadways around the site. The entrance width will be 5.8m, roads on south side of site will be 4.8m wide, and roads on north side of site will be 6.5m. All walkways will be 1.8m wide.

The two representatives from Taylor Wimpey were thanked for their presentation, and left the meeting.

6280.PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

There were no members of the public present.

MATTERS ARISING

6281.Request for further reconsideration of our comments on a planning application (see minute 6274-22/06/11)

A letter has been sent to the Planning Officer expressing disappointment that a pedestrian route through Chapel Place will not be made available, particularly for children on their way to school.

6282.Items for information (see minute 6276-22/06/11)

A letter has been sent to the Planning Enforcement Officer at Central Beds to investigate whether recent development works have encroached over the property’s boundary into Oliver’s Lane, and a letter has also been sent to the owner of the property to request that they shutter the pea shingle to prevent it spilling on to the grass area.

6283.CORRESPONDENCE

None received.

6284.DECISION NOTICES

Resolved that the Planning Decision Notices as listed and forming part of these minutes be noted.

6285.PLANNING APPLICATIONS

Resolved that the comments made on the planning application as listed and forming part of these minutes be forwarded to Central Bedfordshire Council Planning Department.

6286.EXECUTIVE ACTION – PLANNING COMMENTS

Members were asked to approve executive action taken by the Clerk in consultation with the Chairman in returning comments on the following planning applications received, in order to meet deadlines for returning comments.

CB/11/01397/FULL – 11 Regent Court, SG5 4AJ

Installation of 6 solar panels on roof of property

No objections subject to neighbours being consulted

CB/11/02053/FULL – 60 High Street, SG5 4LD

Two storey side extension and front porch

Object on the grounds that the proposed extensions to front and rear of the property would result in an unacceptable overbearing development relative to the neighbouring property. The combined extensions to front, rear and side would constitute a major increase in overall size of the dwelling to the detriment of the street scene

6287.CONSTRUCTION WORKS & PLANNING PERMISSION

Following the last meeting where Members were unsure what the approved plans for the newly built property on the corner of Regent Street/Whitecrofts were against the construction work, plans were available for Members to view. Original point being queried was the location of the stairs to the flat, and it was confirmed that the staircase to the right of the building will serve the flat. One of the garages is for the flat and one is for the shop.

6288.ATTENDANCE AT CENTRAL BEDS DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT MEETING

Resolved that it is not necessary for a representative of this committee to attend the Development Management Meeting at Central Bedfordshire Council on behalf of the Town Council.

6289.ITEMS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY

The Clerk advised that she will be putting together a Planning Training sheet for Members, to refresh for existing Committee Members and as guidance for new Members.

The Chairman advised that he had received a query regarding a porch which had been constructed without planning permission, and had received the following advice from Central Beds Council:

Planning rules for porches are applicable to any external door to the dwelling house. Adding a porch to any external door of your house is considered to be permitted development, not requiring an application for planning permission, provided:

  1. The ground floor area (measured externally) would not exceed three square metres.
  2. No part would be more than three metres above ground level (height needs to be measured in the same way as for a house extension).
  3. No part of the porch would be within two metres of any boundary of the dwelling house and the highway.

There being no further relevant business the meeting was declared closed at 7.47pm

CHAIRMANDATED

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14/07/11