Agenda item

To determine the application.

David Rowen presented the report to members.

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.

Members received a presentation, in accordance with the public participation procedure, from Mr Matthew Hall, the agent. Mr Hall stated that he is pleased to see the officer’s recommendation is to approve the application and explained that there was an appeal decision at 32 Eastwood End in July 2021, which advised that Eastwood End was more consistent with a growth village than an elsewhere location and since the date of the appeal, applications have been approved at Eastwood End. He stated that although technical details would be considered at the next stage, the trees that are located at the far eastern corner of the site would be maintained.

Mr Hall pointed out that the site is located in Flood Zone 1 and a full measured survey of the road has been undertaken in the area and access and visibility splays can all be achieved in accordance with the County Council requirements. He stated that members will be aware of a condition for a footpath to be set from the development to the east of the site and discussions have taken place with the designer and the County Council and technical approval is to be given, with the footpath extending all along the front of the site which has been approved under a previous application in 2019 for three dwellings to the east.

Mr Hall referred members to the presentation screen and pointed out that the plan indicates three other planning applications that have all been approved by the committee in 2019, 2021 and 2022 and explained to members where the proposed site is on the presentation slide. He pointed out the site where an application was approved in 2021 for three dwellings, with works already having commenced to two of those properties, the site which received approval in 2019 for three dwelling, with two having already commenced construction and the northern site indicated on the map was approved in 2022 for nine further dwellings.

Members asked Mr Hall the following questions:

·       Councillor Cornwell pointed out that from the presentation it appears that there is a piece of land which seems to be land locked and he asked whether there is any likelihood of another application being submitted to overcome that? Mr Hall explained that the proposal before members and the site directly to the east for three dwellings are under the same ownership, however, the parcel of land that Councillor Cornwell referred to is owned by somebody different.

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

·       Councillor Mrs Davis stated that in the emerging Local Plan the proposed site would not be permitted, and no further sites would be allowed at Eastwood End in any event. She made the point that the entrance to the site is very close to the A141 and any vehicles coming off the A141 at speed could cause a road traffic accident and there is a danger there.

·       Councillor Skoulding stated that he cannot see any reason why the application could be refused as the others have been passed although he does have concerns with regards to any children needing to cross the main road, however, to remain consistent he will support the officer’s recommendation.

·       Councillor Benney stated that he agrees with the officer’s recommendation and there are no reasons to refuse the application.

·       Councillor Miscandlon stated that there is no provision to cross the A141 and when the technical details come forward, he would like to see the developer include some provision for crossing the A141 which is an extremely dangerous road.

·       Councillor Mrs French stated that she agrees it is a very dangerous 50mph road and there have been several accidents there over the last few months.

·       Councillor Mrs Davis stated that the accidents have been vehicular to the best of her knowledge.

·       Councillor Mrs Davis asked for a request that at the technical stage there would need to be some form of street lighting included which needs to be adopted by the Highway Authority.

·       Nick Harding stated that if permission in principle is granted there will be the subsequent technical application submitted and then the County Council Highways team will identify whether or not they feel that any improvement measures are required at that crossing or whether a lit footway has to be provided as part of the application. He added that he is mindful that no such improvements were required in relation to the application to the north. Nick Harding stated that if they identify that improvements are required, they will then need to determine what those improvements will be.

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

(Councillors Benney, Connor, Cornwell, Mrs Davis, Mrs French, Mrs Mayor, Murphy, Skoulding and Sutton declared, under Paragraph 2 of the Code of Conduct on Planning Matters, that they had been lobbied on this application)

(Councillors Benney stated that the agent for this item is known to him in a professional capacity, but it would not make any difference to his decision making and voting on the application)

(Councillor Connor declared, under Paragraph 14 of the Code of Conduct on Planning Matters, that he represents Doddington and Wimblington as a Fenland District Councillor and attends their meetings but takes no part in planning matters)

(Councillor Mrs Davis declared, under Paragraph 14 of the Code of Conduct on Planning Matters, that she is Chairman of Wimblington Parish Council but takes no part in planning matters)