Address:       Land to the rear of Stondon Lower School and playing fields, Upper Stondon, SG16 6QB

Outline: Formation of new access together with residential development of 40 dwellings together with associated landscaping and engineering operations.

Applicant:     Optimis Consulting

The Committee had before it a report regarding Planning Application No. CB/18/00223/OUT, an outline application for the formulation of a new access together with a residential development of 40 dwellings together with associated landscaping and engineering operations on land to the rear of Stondon Lower School and playing fields, Upper Stondon, SG16 6QB.

No additional consultation/publicity responses, comments or additional/amended conditions were set out in the Late Sheet.

In advance of consideration of the application the Committee received representations from Councillor Nigel Benson of Stondon Parish Council and Mr Justin Wickersham, the applicant’s agent, under the public participation scheme.

The planning officer responded to the points raised as follows:

·         Whilst the applicant was willing to work with the community the triggers for the delivery of the local facilities had to be appropriate and the applicant was the primary party in the discussions on the S106 Agreement.  The planning officer suggested that it might be more suitable to work with Members rather than other bodies on the delivery schedule to ensure the triggers were appropriate.

·         The applicant had made clear his commitment to the delivery of the facilities.

·         There were no objections from the Internal Drainage officers or the Environment Agency and conditions were included for surface water, drainage plans and maintenance plans.  A condition could be imposed for foul water drainage scheme if desired by Members.

·         A second planning officer referred to the long term relationship between the applicant and the Parish Council in progressing the application and he felt that co-operation should continue in deciding the triggers for inclusion in the S106.  He reiterated that the applicant was the primary party and the Council had, therefore, to work through the applicant.  However, the Council would also wish to take account of the views of the Parish Council to ensure the application worked in a logical and appropriate way.

The ward Member, who was a member of the Committee, stated:

·         That he, together with the other ward Members, would work with all parties to ensure the phasing plan for the application worked to everyone’s benefit.

·         The site was outside the settlement envelope but represented sensible infill.

·         Recent major development in the area had provided no additional facilities.  The monies made available through previous S106 Agreements lay unused with Central Bedfordshire but the current application and another (minute DC/18/66 below refers) combined with these new monies to enable the provision of much improved facilities.

·         The level of affordable housing was welcomed.

·         All ward Members supported the application which, it was felt, would provide major benefits.

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

·         That the village accepted the application, wanted to make it work and thereby benefit from it.

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

RESOLVED

that Planning Application No. CB/18/ 00223/OUT relating to land to the rear of Stondon Lower School and playing fields, Upper Stondon, SG16 6QB be approved as set out in the Schedule attached to these minutes.