Address:       Land east of No 13 Clophill Road, Maulden, Bedford, MK45 2AQ

Outline Application: Residential development on land north off Clophill Road, Maulden including other associated works.

Applicant:     Aldbury Homes

The Committee had before it a report regarding Planning Application No.  CB/17/01156/OUT, an outline application for a residential development including other associated works on land east of no. 13 Clophill Road, Maulden, MK45 2AQ.

Prior to consideration of the application the Chairman reminded the Committee that consideration of this application had been deferred at the meeting held on 3 January 2018.  As a result the applicant had appealed to the Planning Inspectorate on the grounds of non-determination and the Inspectorate would now determine the application.  However, the Council could still express a view on the application and so the Committee was asked whether it was minded to approve or minded to refuse the application before it.

In advance of consideration of the application the Committee’s attention was drawn to additional comments and additional/amended conditions as set out in the Late Sheet.

In advance of consideration of the application the Committee received representations from Maulden Parish Council, an objector to the application and the agent for the applicant under the public participation scheme.

A ward Member expressed general concerns on the process by which the Committee was expected to make its decisions.  He referred to the location of the application, the possible large scale development in the same area being considered by the Parish Council and contrasted it to the proposal before Members which would make no contribution to the village.  He stated that the village would continue to be developed as a ribbon development by continual infilling.  He endorsed the views of the Parish Council, which had strongly objected to the application, and commented that the Committee was bound by procedural dogma.

The planning officer responded to the points raised as follows:

·         The plans were illustrative and the officers were certain that they could achieve a satisfactory scheme through Reserved Matters. 

·         Structural damage by the applicant or developer was a matter outside the planning remit and would be dealt with as a legal matter.

·         Only limited weight could be given to the possible designation of the site as an important countryside gap under the emerging Local Plan and adopted policies took precedent.  Under the existing policies there was currently no designation for the site.  He referred to the criteria set out under national policy with regard to the weight which could be awarded to an emerging Local Plan and the policies within it.

·         No S106 contributions had been requested and no individual projects had been identified.  He suggested the Committee might wish to give the officers delegated power to explore this matter further, if the application was approved.

·         The concern was in connection with the loss of identity of village ends rather than the coalescence of settlements.  The indicative plan showed a large area of open space to maintain the individual character of the ends.  He acknowledged there would be harm to the landscape through development and urbanisation but given the level of weight given to housing provision in sustainable locations the benefits outweighed the perceived harm.

A Member  ...  view the full minutes text for item 121