Address:       Land at Taylors Road, opposite Aspen Gardens, Stotfold, Hitchin, SG5 4AX

Demolition of existing industrial units and development of 32 residential dwellings (including 12 affordable homes), vehicular access, pedestrian links, car parking, drainage, public open space and associated works.

Applicant:     Taylor Wimpey North Thames

The Committee had before it a report regarding Planning Application No. CB/17/05913/FULL for the demolition of existing industrial units and the development of 32 residential dwellings (including 12 affordable homes), vehicular access, pedestrian links, car parking, drainage, public open space and associated works on land at Taylors Road, opposite Aspen Gardens, Stotfold, Hitchin, SG5 4AX.

In advance of consideration of the application the Committee’s attention was drawn to additional consultation/publicity responses, additional comments and an additional informative.

In advance of consideration of the application the Committee received representations from Stotfold Town Council and the agent for the applicant under the public participation scheme.

A Member sought clarification from the Stotfold Town Council representative on sustainability in terms of employment; the Town Council having objected to the loss of the site as existing employment land.  The Member also queried whether Stotfold had a significant level of unemployment.  The Town Council representative replied that there was some unemployment but it was not at a significant level.  Another Member referred to the Town Council representative disputing the number of traffic movements and queried on what basis the Town Council had increased them to a level it felt was more appropriate.  The Town Council representative stated that the increase had been based on Central Bedfordshire Council’s own car parking policy, regarding the number of cars per dwelling, and observing the extent of car use and level of traffic movements outside the schools in Stotfold.  The Town Council representative added that at a recent public enquiry for a site in Stotfold he had asked the developers if they assumed any car movements took place within the walking and cycling areas and they had stated that they did not, hence the extremely low level of estimated vehicle movements stated in the report.

A Member commented that the Town Council’s assumption that there would be at least 50 vehicle movements in the morning and in the evening was based on approximately two cars per household travelling at the same time and in the same direction.  He queried whether these travel times and directions could actually vary from this assumption.  The Member also asked if the Town Council had employed a traffic engineer to establish the above or whether it was based on supposition alone.  In response the Town Council representative stated that it was based on experience and local knowledge.  He referred to the issues relating to local road junctions.  He stated that the figures were based on observations and the details had been discussed by the Town Council.  A traffic engineer had not been employed to carry out a survey.

A Member stated that the latest figures revealed that of twelve thousand residents in Stotfold, 70 were claiming job seekers allowance.  The unemployment rate for the town stood at 4.2% whilst the national average rate stood at 9%.  He stated that, with regard to employment sustainability, there was an existing high level of employment and job availability in Stotfold and so did not regard this as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 136