Agenda item

Agenda item

Planning Application No. CB/17/01600/OUT (Sandy ward)

 

Address:       Land adjacent to 17, The Green, Beeston (nearest postcode SG19 1PE)

 

Outline Application: Erection of six affordable dwellings including access and parking.

 

Applicant:     CBC

Minutes:

 

The Committee considered a report regarding Planning Application No. CB/17/01600/OUT, an outline application for the erection of six affordable dwellings including access and parking on land adjacent to 17 The Green, Beeston.

 

In advance of consideration of the application the Committee noted that there was no additional information set out in the Late Sheet which related to this application.

 

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

 

A ward Member expressed her support for the application.  She stated that she was a Beeston resident and lived close to the development site.  She then referred to initial concerns expressed by local residents regarding the layout of the proposed homes but stated the indicative layout provided in the outline application appeared more acceptable.  The ward Member also commented on the need for affordable homes in Beeston and that, as a rural exception site, a maximum of ten homes was permitted though the application before Members was for only six.

 

A second ward Member referred to the proximity of the A1, the bus service and the nearby bridge over the A1 which allowed pedestrians to walk to Sandy and its schools if they wished.   In addition the village was on the Greensand Ridge Walk and it was possible to access the nearby countryside.  She stressed that whilst the village appeared isolated it was not.  The ward Member then referred to the possibility that residents could use the parking spaces to be allocated for the proposed community orchard and asked that recommended condition 3 be strengthened to prevent this.  The ward Member also asked whether, as the dwellings were affordable homes, allocation priority would be given to local people.  Last, if the application was approved, she asked when the Town Council could begin preparation for the provision of its replacement allotments on the site.

 

The Committee considered the application and in summary discussed the following:

 

·         The planning officer’s explanation that the proposed houses faced The Green so that they complied with the character of the area and placing them at a different angle would be detrimental to the street scene.  However, the layout shown was indicative and would be dealt with further at the Reserved Matters stage.

·         The absence of direct access so there was the possibility of parking on The Green.  The planning officer stated that parking provision was made within the application site and it was not possible to stop parking on the roads.  Any access from The Green would be a civil matter and dealt with through legal measures.

·         The Council could grant permission for the access.  However, the applicant would need to obtain the appropriate legal rights to access The Green which was outside the remit of the Committee.

·         The Chairman referred to the absence of a footpath on The Green so pedestrians were required to walk on the highway.  The planning officer stated that the highway officers had assessed this issue and had raised no objections.

·         Confirmation by the planning officer of a timber business and larger vehicles were observed travelling to A1.  She added that the additional vehicle movements generated by the six new homes were not considered significant to impact on the existing highway network.

·         The highways officer’s statement that the proposed conditions were appropriate and highways issues would be considered again at the Reserved Matters stage.  However, he did not believe the application would result in any material harm and there was already significant access on to The Green.  An additional six dwellings were not thought to be problematic.

·         The clarification provided by a ward Member who explained that additional lorries, particularly heavy goods vehicles, related to the timber yard drove through The Green.  This occurred because there was a weight restriction at the end of The Green which prevented access on to the A1 through Orchard Road.  She added that the provision of footpaths had been considered but due to the expense and character of the village it had been decided by Sandy Town Council not to provide them along The Green.

 

On being put to the vote 11 Members voted for approval, 0 voted against and 1 abstained.

 

RESOLVED

 

that Planning Application No. CB/17/01600/OUT relating to  land adjacent to 17 The Green, Beeston be approved as set out in the Schedule attached to these minutes.

 

 

 

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