Agenda and minutes

To confirm and sign the minutes from the previous meeting of 17 July  2019.

The minutes of the meeting of 17 July 2019 were confirmed and signed.

To consider the appeals report.

David Rowen presented a report to members with regards to appeal decisions received on applications over the last month.

To Determine the Application

The committee had regard to its inspection of the site (as agreed in accordance with the Site Inspection Policy and Procedure (minute P19/04 refers)) during its deliberations.

Sheila Black presented the report to members and drew their attention to the update report which had been circulated.

Members received a presentation in support of the application, in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure from Mr Matt Taylor, the Applicant.

Mr Taylor, explained to members that he works for RWS Ltd in Whittlesey. He added that the proposed site is existing garden land with occasional use for ponies to graze and there has never been any business activity on the land. He added that there has been other development over the last 10 to 15 years. He stated that he has produced a masterplan just as an indicative layout just to show that the proposed development could fit up to 19 mostly semi-detached dwellings and a minimum of 5 affordable dwellings. He highlighted that the top part of the site falls within flood zone 3, which will be left as open space provision, which also connects to an area north of the site.

Mr Taylor pointed out that access for the proposal is off of Stonald Road and the majority of the neighbourhood comments have suggested that the access could be taken through Harvester Way. Whittlesey Town Council has no objection to the proposal and has highlighted that their preferred access would be off of Stonald Road.

He added that there have been various flood risk issues which have been highlighted, however meetings have taken place with the Internal Drainage Board and the Local Lead Flood Authority and they have seen and agreed the indicative design and a more detailed design will be required if approval is given for the proposal.

The infrastructure proposed as part of the Section 106 scheme is fully supported. He added that the proposal also meets policy LP14 and LP3.

He concluded that the majority of the sites in the area are of a cul de sac nature and therefore the proposal has tried to fit in with the others in the locality.

There were no questions for the applicant.

Members asked questions, made comments and received responses as follows:

·         Councillor Sutton asked officers for clarification with regard to the section 106 pooling arrangements which are contained within the officers report, as he understood that pooling arrangements were no longer in use. David Rowen clarified that pooling arrangements will no longer be available as of September 2019.

Proposed by Councillor Murphy, seconded by Councillor Sam Clark and decided that the application be APPROVED, subject to the conditions stated, as per the officer’s recommendation.

To Determine the Application.

The committee had regard to its inspection of the site (as agreed in accordance with the Site Inspection Policy and Procedure (minute P19/04 refers)) during its deliberations.

Sheila Black presented the report to members and drew their attention to the update report which had been circulated.

Members asked questions, made comments and received responses as follows:

·         Councillor Sutton stated that there were a number of objections on the original planning application which was for 30 dwellings. Previously when the application was refused the applicant reduced the number of dwellings to 28 to bring it in line with the agreed threshold at that time however it was refused on other matters. He added that there is still a great deal of objection to the proposal and he expressed the view that he agrees with those objecting, however if the application is refused it could prove to be costly to the Council.

·         Councillor Sutton added he has had contact with concerned residents and he stated that he feels sorry for the residents in the 2 dwellings which will be in very close proximity to the roadway.

·         Councillor Meekins stated that if had been on the planning committee when this proposal originally came forward, he would have strongly objected to it. He added that in his opinion it is over development and will have a detrimental effect on Elm as a village as it is becoming more built up.

Proposed by Councillor Benney, seconded by Councillor Rackley, and decided that the application be APPROVED, as per the officers recommendation.

(Councillor Sutton declared an interest by virtue of the fact that he had been lobbied on this item)

To Determine the Application

The committee had regard to its inspection of the site (as agreed in accordance with the Site Inspection Policy and Procedure (minute P19/04 refers)) during its deliberations.

Councillor Marks left the Council Chamber for this agenda item.

Sheila Black presented the report to members and drew their attention to the update report which had been circulated.

Members received a presentation in support of the application, in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure, from Mr Lee Bevens, the Agent.

Mr Bevens explained that the applicants have been residents of Manea for many years and they purchased Westwood Farm 3 years ago. The site at that time was in a poor state and overgrown and the front of the site covered in dense scrub and brambles. He added that the applicants have invested a great deal of time and money in recent years to improve the site and this has resulted in other local businesses attracted to the site. There are now a number of businesses using the premises including the applicants own haulage and storage business, a dog grooming business and a forklift business there. The forklift business stores emergency forklifts and relies on the premises and the applicants business to transport the hire machines 24 hours a day for 365 days a year. The businesses all employ Manea residents and in turn support the local community.

Mr Bevens added that the businesses on site are not only concerned with the security of the site, with equipment worth £1,000,000 being stored on the site from a Friday evening till Monday morning and they are also hoping that the operating hours of the businesses can be improved with regard to flexibility of the response times for deliveries out of hours. It is hoped that having a residential dwelling on the site would assist would improve the situation long term.

Mr Bevens stated that his client has asked for it to be noted that for 8 months of the year the cold storage units on site require 24 hour monitoring due to inclement weather from climate change and can also mean that there are vehicular movements into the farm at any time of the day. Currently this requires a phone call meaning that the applicants have to get into a vehicle, to unlock the premises and load and unload the lorry and then return home.

Mr Bevens mentioned that with regard to the issues concerning the sequential test in this instance it seemed illogical to expect a sequential test given that the whole point of the exercise is to provide a family home with a home office at the address to support the businesses run from the site. Whilst he appreciates that a test would identify other sites in the village, these would likely to be further away from the site and this would defeat the object of the application. There have been no objections by the Environment Agency.

The proposed development would offer an attractive solution to the entrance of Manea when  ...  view the full minutes text for item P25/19