Agenda item

To consider an application for:

1.          Full planning permission for the erection of 390 dwellings (including 117 affordable dwellings and 4 self-build plots), a cricket pitch and/or football pitches with temporary community shop (Use Class E/F2), public open space and amenity space (including Children’s Play), associated landscaping and ecological enhancements, internal highways, parking, footpaths, cycleways, drainage, utilities, service infrastructure, acoustic bunding and fencing, improvements to existing access routes across A1(M) via Six Hills Way, Bessemer Drive, Redcar Drive and Meadway (including a new underpass at Meadway and associated accommodation/engineering works) and highway improvements along Chadwell Road; and

2.          Outline planning permission for up to 1,110 dwelling units (including 30% affordable housing and self-build plots), principal employment area (up to 10,000 sq.m Use Class E(g) space), a residential care home (up to 72 beds) and up to 400sq.m Use Class E space, a mixed use local centre (Use Class C3 and up to 900sq.m of Use Class E/F2 Space), a neighbourhood square (including a mobility hub and up to 150sqm of Use Class E/F2 Space), a primary school (up to 3 FE), a mobility hub with flexible community workspace adjacent the Meadway underpass, a pavilion and mobility hub adjacent to the cricket and/or football pitches, public open and amenity space (including Children’s Play), sports facilities (including informal multi-use games area), associated landscaping and ecological enhancement works, acoustic bunding and fencing, internal highways, parking, footpaths, cycleways, drainage, utilities, service infrastructure and future connections into safeguarded land in North Hertfordshire, and a new car park and pavilion at Meadway Playing Fields (with some matters reserved). This application is accompanied by an Environmental Statement.

Full planning permission for the erection of 390 dwellings (including 117 affordable dwellings and 4 self-build plots), a cricket pitch and/or football pitches with temporary community shop (Use Class E/F2), public open space and amenity space (including children's play), associated landscaping and ecological enhancements, internal highways, parking, footpaths, cycleways, drainage, utilities, service infrastructure, acoustic bunding and fencing, improvements to existing access routes across A1(M) via Six Hills Way, Bessemer Drive, Redcar Drive and Meadway (including a new underpass at Meadway and associated accommodation/engineering works) and highway improvements along Chadwell Road.

Outline planning permission for up to 1,110 dwelling units (including 30% affordable housing and self-build plots), principal employment area (up to 10,000 sq.m Use Class E(g) space), a residential care home (up to 72 beds) and up to 400sq.m Use Class E space, a mixed use local centre (Use Class C3 and up to 900 sq.m of Use Class E/F2 Space), a neighbourhood square (including mobility hub and up to 150 sq.m of Use E/F2 Space), a primary school (up to 3FE), a mobility hub with flexible community workspace adjacent to the Meadway underpass, a pavilion and mobility hub adjacent to the cricket and/or football pitches, public open space and amenity space (including children's play), sport facilities (including informal multi-use games area), associated landscaping and ecological enhancement works, acoustic bunding and fencing, internal highways, parking, footpaths, cycleways, drainage, utilities, service infrastructure and future connections into safeguarded land in North Hertfordshire, and a new car park and pavilion at Meadway Playing Fields (with some matters reserved). This application is accompanied by an Environmental Statement.

It was RESOLVED that, subject to the applicant having first entered into a Section 106 agreement as set out in Paragraph 9.1 of the report, and to the delegated powers being given to the Assistant Director (Regulation) in consultation with the Chair of the Planning & Development Committee set out in Paragraph 9.2 of the report (and regarding the Lead Local Flood Authority in the second addendum report), application 21/00356/FPM be granted outline and full planning permission, as per the draft conditions listed in the report, together with the additional draft conditions listed in the first addendum report, and inclusive of the following additional Section 106 items and further additional draft conditions:

Additional Section 106 items (with delegated powers being given to the Assistant Director (Regulation) in consultation with the Chair of the Planning & Development Committee to secure these measures)

·        Mitigation measures to manage fly tipping in Dyes Lane, as requested by the Council’s Community Safety Manager; and

·        A financial contribution of approximately £396,536 for extra capacity for the health and emergency service, as requested by the East of England Ambulance Service.

Further additional draft conditions

92.   At least 50% of the residential units shall be Category 2: Accessible and Adaptable dwellings in accordance with Policy HO11 of the Stevenage Borough Local Plan 2011 – 2031 (adopted 2019).

93.   Prior to the commencement of development (excluding operations consisting of site clearance, demolition, earthworks, archaeological investigations, investigations for assessing ground conditions, remedial work in respect of any contamination or other adverse ground conditions, diversion and laying of services, erection of any temporary means of enclosure, and the temporary display of site notices or advertisements) details of mitigation measures to reduce the potential recreational pressures on the Knebworth Woods SSSI shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority in consultation with Natural England. The approved mitigation measures shall be put in place prior to first occupation of the development hereby permitted.