Agenda and minutes

To confirm and sign the minutes from the previous meeting of 9 October 2019.

The minutes of the meeting of 9 October 2019 were confirmed and signed, subject to the following comments;

1.    Councillor Sutton said in relation to minute P35/19 point 3; he had stated that the impact of the extra development land on residents would be no different to those houses located close to the existing site with planning permission.

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)) during its deliberations.

David Rowen presented the report to members and drew their attention to the update report that had been circulated to them.

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

1.    Councillor Sutton supported the application and said the site could easily accommodate more dwellings.

2.    Councillor Connor agreed and said development would be an improvement on the current dilapidated site.

Proposed by Councillor Benney, seconded by Councillor Sutton and decided that the application be GRANTED; as per 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)) during its deliberations.

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

Members received a presentation in objection to the application, in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure, from Councillor Mrs Jan French (March Town Councillor).

Councillor Mrs French thanked members for the opportunity to speak at today’s Planning Committee meeting. She raised concern with the officer’s recommendation to grant planning permission and highlighted that the consultation with statutory consultees was carried out in April/May 2018 and is therefore outdated. She stated that Cambridgeshire County Council (CCC) Highways should have been re-consulted. 

Councillor Mrs French informed members that the March Transport Strategy Study (MTSS) is underway and currently out for public consultation. The document highlights congestion at the Burrowmoor Road and High Street, March junction which would be further impacted by this development. She added that March Town Council had recommended refusal as well as the Council’s own Transport team.

Councillor Mrs French explained that the scheme is not compliant with policy and highlighted that National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) Paragraph 1- 17 promotes the effective use of land which this scheme fails to do as the application is only an outline application and therefore only indicative. She reiterated that due to the application only being for outline planning permission, the compliance with policy cannot be assessed effectively.

Councillor Mrs French informed members that March is currently subject to several studies including the MTSS, Growing Fenland Project and the High Street Study and if successful, will bring in the region of £14 million of government funding into the town. A development such as this is premature and therefore its effect on these studies must be considered.

She asked members to refuse the application based on the following factors; over-development, traffic concerns, detriment to the surrounding area and not in keeping with the current site and surrounding locality. She highlighted the effects of overlooking on the residents of Ravenhill Drive and stated that as no tree surveys have been carried out, it is unknown the effect the development will have on the wildlife and habitat onsite.

Councillor Mrs French asked members to refuse this application as only a full application for planning permission would highlight the full impact of this development on the town. She reminded members that the site is opposite a Council owned car-park in City Road, March and stated that this should not be expected to accommodate residents parking.

She drew members attention to the architect’s drawings submitted with the application and highlighted the use of a roof garden in one of the proposed blocks and argued that this was out of keeping with other blocks of flats located in the town.

Councillor Mrs French reiterated that the application fails to address the impact of additional traffic and offers no means of mitigation  ...  view the full minutes text for item P43/19

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)) during its deliberations.

Sheila Black presented the report to members.

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

1.    Councillor Hay supported the application and said she was pleased to see the amendments to the scheme following the previous refusal of planning permission.

2.    Councillor Murphy agreed and stated that development of the site is long overdue.

3.    Councillor Sutton highlighted that the impact of this scheme would have a similar impact on traffic as the previous application considered today (F/YR18/0345/FDL) and reminded members that they must consistently assess planning applications. He offered support to the application, as per his support for application F/YR18/0345/FDL.

4.    Councillor Hay agreed but stated that all applications should be considered on their own merits and disagreed that this application is similar to the previous application F/YR18/0345/FDL. She highlighted that this proposed development is in keeping with the neighbouring block of flats and is located in a town centre location surrounded by retail units.

Proposed by Councillor Meekins, seconded by Councillor Mrs Mayor and decided that the application be GRANTED; as per 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)) during its deliberations.

David Rowen presented the report to members.

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

Lee Bevens thanked members for the opportunity to speak at today’s meeting. He reminded members that planning permission had previously been granted approving the erection of two dwellings; one of which was a two-storey house. He highlighted that this application proposes the erection of only a single dwelling and this expected to be a bungalow.

Lee Bevens stated that there had been no objections from statutory consultees and Chatteris Town Council supported the application. In light of objections from residents, he highlighted that this application seeks a 50% reduction in dwellings compared to the previously approved scheme and this reduction will therefore mitigate the impact on neighbouring residents as the construction phase will be much shorter. He asked members to support the application today.

Members had no questions for Lee Bevens.

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

1.    Councillor Connor asked for clarification on the site’s current planning permission. David Rowen explained that the site currently has planning permission for two dwellings and this is due to expire in February 2020.

2.    Councillor Benney said this site is situated within his ward and development would enhance the current piece of land. He offered his full support to the application.

Proposed by Councillor Benney, seconded by Councillor Hay and decided that the application be GRANTED; as per officer’s recommendation.

(Councillor Murphy declared an interest by virtue of the fact that he is a member of Chatteris Town Council but takes no part in planning matters)

(Councillor Hay declared an interest by virtue of the fact that she is a member of Chatteris Town Council but takes no part in planning matters)

(Councillor Benney declared an interest by virtue of the fact that he is a member of Chatteris Town Council but takes no part in planning matters)

The meeting was adjourned at 2.24pm.

To determine the application.

The meeting reconvened at 2.34pm.

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

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

Members received a presentation in support of the application, in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure, from Matthew Hall (Agent).

Matthew Hall thanked members for the opportunity to speak at today’s meeting. He stated that the site is located between and opposite existing dwellings and has not been used for agricultural purposes for some 40 years. The site is located within Flood Zone 1, has the support of Chatteris Town Council and no concerns have been raised by the Environment Agency, Environmental Health and the Council’s Tree officer. He confirmed that subject to planning approval, his client would be happy for a condition to be added to the planning permission requiring an ecological survey to be carried out.

Matthew Hall explained that the majority of trees will be retained on site and any that are removed will be replaced with additional landscaping behind the visibility splays. He added that the Council’s Tree officer has visited the site and has requested that an extensive landscaping design is required. He reminded members that the earlier planning application considered (F/YR18/0345/FDL) had many mature trees on site and that was recommended for approval by officers without the need for this.

Matthew Hall drew member’s attention to the aerial photo showing that residential dwellings surround the site currently. He informed members that as part of the application, an independent highways report had been submitted however the Highways authority denied ever being sent this report by officers and as a result, raised an objection to the application. Following this, he confirmed that he has engaged with an officer at the Highways authority to find an acceptable solution for the site and following this engagement, they have now removed their objection.

Matthew Hall reminded members that at the Planning Committee meeting on 9 October 2019, they had granted planning permission a similar application F/YR19/0684/O. He drew member’s attention to the similarities between this application and application F/YR19/0684/O and said officer’s had also recommended this application for refusal. One of the main concerns raised was whether or not the site was located within the village of Doddington and he highlighted that this site is located approximately 650m inside the ‘Chatteris’ road sign. He asked members to support the application today.

Members had no questions for Matthew Hall.

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

1.    David Rowen clarified Matthew Hall’s point regarding information not being passed on to the Highways Authority. He confirmed that it is the responsibility of the Highways authority to access any supporting documents via the Council’s Planning Portal.

2.    Councillor Benney agreed with Matthew Hall that the site is within the boundary of Chatteris and disagreed with  ...  view the full minutes text for item P46/19

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)) during its deliberations.

David Rowen presented the report to members.

Members received a presentation in support of the application, in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure, from Shanna Jackson (Agent).

Shanna Jackson thanked members for the opportunity to speak at today’s meeting. She explained that the application seeks to remove a planning condition in relation to the widening of an existing footpath. She explained that the condition was originally imposed as result of comments made by the Highways Authority however following further consultation; they have been unable to provide evidence showing poor highway safety to support this condition.

Shanna Jackson explained that the NPPF states that conditions must adhere to six tests, one of which states that conditions must be ‘reasonable’. She highlighted previous planning applications and subsequent appeals, in which the widening of a footpath was not a condition of the planning permission and stated that she believes the condition to be unreasonable due to lack of highways evidence to support the need for a wider footpath. She requested that members agree with officer’s recommendation to grant planning permission.

Members had no questions for Shanna Jackson.

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

1.    Councillor Benney stated that he cannot see any issues with the proposal and supported the application.

2.    Councillor Sutton agreed and stated that the condition should never have been added to the original planning permission. He asked officer’s to be more robust when considering comments received by the Highways authority.

Proposed by Councillor Benney, seconded by Councillor Clark and decided that the application be GRANTED; as per 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)) during its deliberations.

David Rowen presented the report to members.

Members received a presentation in support of the application, in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure, from Councillor Mrs Jan French.

Councillor Mrs French explained that this application proposes a replacement dwelling which demonstrates the effective use of the land for a residential property. The dwelling will provide a high quality living environment that will not compromise the amenities of neighbouring occupiers. She informed members that the applicant is a local business man who employs 58 members of staff locally. If planning permission is approved the applicant will relocate all of his remaining businesses to Fenland which will both promote economic growth in Fenland and may encourage other businesses to follow.

Councillor Mrs French explained that that whilst the proposed house is large in scale, it will be built to a very high standard and provide a good example of an executive home in the district. She explained that the applicant has engaged with herself in relation to his proposed business relocation due to the Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Councillor Benney, being a member of the Planning Committee. She asked members to approve the application and promote the Council’s message of ‘Open for Business’.

Members had no questions for Councillor Mrs French.

Members received a presentation in support of the application, in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure, from Shanna Jackson (Agent).

Shanna Jackson explained that the proposed dwelling has been specifically designed for the changing lifestyle of the applicant and whilst concerns have been raised about the scale and proposed materials being out of keeping with the area, this has been derived from the accommodation needs of the applicant. She highlighted that the site can clearly accommodate this size of dwelling and drew members attention to the varying size of properties located in Bridge Lane.

Shanna Jackson confirmed that whilst there is no strict building line on Bridge Lane, the dwelling will cause no harm to the appearance of the area and the property will be positioned further back on the site. She highlighted the varying pallet of building materials on the street scene and confirmed that the application was welcomed locally and had received no objections from technical consultees.

She addressed the concerns raised by Wimblington Parish Council in relation to the caravans onsite and confirmed that these would be removed post completion of the dwelling. She asked members to support the application.

Members asked Shanna Jackson the following questions;

1.    Councillor Meekins asked for clarification about the proposed building materials. Shanna Jackson confirmed that the dwelling would be built in buff brick and the roof would be slate.

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

1.    Councillor Benney stated that he has considered this application carefully and believes that the proposed dwelling and garage are suitable for the site. Whilst  ...  view the full minutes text for item P48/19

To consider the Appeals Report.

David Rowen presented the report to members with regards to appeal decisions in the last month.

The purpose of this report is to advise Members of the current situation regarding the above and to authorise legal proceeding to secure compliance with the Notice.

Members considered the confidential report presented by David Rowen.

The Planning Committee agreed to the recommendations contained within the confidential report.

The purpose of this report is to advise Members of the current situation regarding the above site and to authorise legal proceeding to secure compliance with the Notice.

Members considered the confidential report presented by David Rowen.

The Planning Committee agreed to the recommendations contained within the confidential report.