Agenda item

To determine the application

David Rowen presented the report to members.

Members received a presentation, in accordance with the public participation procedure, from the applicant, Mr Cutteridge.  Mr Cutteridge stated that the Parish Council have not given their support to the application as, in their view, the road is in poor condition, but in his opinion, there is not a single pothole along Hospital Road, and it is checked regularly. He explained that there have been objections from residents in Askham Row and having spoken to them, the residents appear to be more concerned that there will be more properties built on the land behind them should the current application be approved, and he has assured them that this will not be the case as that is where he keeps his horses.

Mr Cutteridge explained that prior to submission of the application he had a meeting with the Highway Authority where he walked the road with them and discussed the roadway with them in detail and they agreed that the road was capable of dealing with the amount of traffic currently. He stated that he also spoke to them with regards to another planning application concerning his business, due to the inclusion of a cafeteria and shop, and it was agreed that additional passing places would be included.

Mr Cutteridge explained that the road used to be the main access to Doddington Hospital for over 40 years and had far more traffic during that time. He explained that the entrance to the proposed two dwellings is right beside one of the access points that went into Doddington Hospital and added that the proposal is located 0.4 miles from the clock tower of Doddington and the village spreads for in excess of a mile in most directions.

Mr Cutteridge explained that he has no issues with walking or using a bicycle to get his children to school and the village can be accessed comfortably. He added that there is a streetlight at the end of Hospital Road which lights that area very well in the evening and the visibility from the proposed site enables anybody to be able to see the end of the road for oncoming traffic.

Mr Cutteridge stated that dog walkers use the lane regularly, he has lived there all of his life and he has never known of any accident involving any pedestrian on the road. He stated that there are 11 dwellings on Turf End Road, which is 0.5 miles from the centre of the village, with a narrower road and has a blind bend and is also no street lighting on the road which also has a hedge and one narrow verge and a further four dwellings are being built.

Mr Cutteridge explained that each of the proposed dwellings will have their own sewerage treatment plant as he is aware that Doddington is already having issues dealing with sewerage. He advised the committee that the Council have advised him that some of the properties in Hospital Road have an agricultural tie to them and stated that one of those properties was sold a few years ago to occupiers with no links to agriculture and although this was highlighted to the Council no action was taken, however, the Council have decided to make reference to this fact with this planning application. He added that there is no agricultural tie on the previous two dwellings which have already received permission.

Mr Cutteridge expressed the view that there will be no significant change to the character of the area as there is already a building on the hospital land which is far bigger than the proposed dwellings. He stated that the Planning Officers have also stated that the occupiers will have to move their waste collection bins 30 yards to the collection point, however, there are other streets such as Thistledown and Oak Tree Close in Doddington where the bins have to be moved as far as that as well.

Mr Cutteridge expressed the opinion that the homes will be affordable family homes and he added that to buy a building plot and build your own dwelling is half the cost of purchasing your own four bedroomed home in Doddington. He explained that he has planted 10,000 new trees and made the point that Doddington is a growth village, and he does not think that the proposal site is too far outside of the village.

Mr Cutteridge confirmed that there is no flood risk on the site and there are no issues with regards to sewerage management.

Members asked Mr Cutteridge the following questions:

·         Councillor Miscandlon asked Mr Cutteridge to confirm who would pay for the management of the properties sewerage system. Mr Cutteridge confirmed that each dwelling would have its own sewerage treatment plant installed and the water that comes from that will be clean enough to go into the drain.

·         Councillor Sutton stated that he disagrees with the point made concerning the access points into the hospital as he is aware that historically the gatehouse was the entrance to the hospital and not Hospital Road. Mr Cutteridge responded that the gatehouse was the exit as it was a one-way system since he was a small boy and was the exit for the last 48 years.

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

·         Councillor Sutton expressed the opinion that he agrees with the officer’s recommendation for this application. He added that the committee had previously approved the application that had been submitted for the two dwellings which was against the officer’s recommendation which at that time was an in-balance decision as the committee had felt that it was infill, however, this application, in his opinion, is a step too far.

Proposed by Councillor Sutton, seconded by Councillor Miscandlon that the application be REFUSED as per officer’s recommendation.  This was not supported on a majority vote by members.

Proposed by Councillor Mrs French, seconded by Councillor Benney and agreed that the application be APPROVED against the officer’s recommendation.

Members do not support officer’s recommendation of refusal of planning permission as they feel that the proposal is making good use of the land, meets housing needs, Doddington is a growth village, the site is surrounded by trees and is not protruding into the open countryside, it is making good use of the depth of land and the fact that the dwellings will have their own sewerage treatment plants will not add to the sewerage issues Doddington already has.

(Councillor Connor declared that Mr Gowler, the agent, and Mr Cutteridge, the applicant, are known him,but thiswould haveno bearingon his determinationof the application)