Issue - meetings

To consider an application for approval of reserved matters (layout, landscaping, scale, and appearance) for residential development of 115 units comprising Phase 1 Parcels D pursuant to Outline permission 17/00862/OPM

It was RESOLVED that the application 22/00806/RMM be GRANTED planning permission subject to the conditions and reasons set out in the report.

The Committee considered an application for the approval of reserved matters (layout, landscaping, scale, and appearance) for residential development of 115 units comprising Phase 1 Parcels D pursuant to Outline permission 17/00862/OPM

The Principal Planning Officer advised that this application was for the development of Phase 1D located in the St Nicholas and Rectory Lane Conservation Area.  The proposed plans had undergone negotiations with officers and the LPA’s heritage consultants BEAMS.  The revised plans submitted included the erection of 115 dwellings, including aspirational homes, all highways matters outside of the infrastructure application within this Phase, and landscaping and boundary treatments contained within this residential parcel located due east of Phase 1B. The eastern boundary of this parcel would abut the proposed Country Park.

At this juncture, the Chair invited Anne Conche from the Friends of Forster Country to address the Committee.

Mrs Conche informed Members she was speaking on behalf of over one hundred Members of the Friends of Forster Country.  She advised that the democratic decision to build had been accepted, however, was disappointed that the Council had not considered and followed the advice from BEAMS, Historic England and the CPRE.  She was concerned that the types of housing required in the Local Plan were not reflected in the proposed development.  In the spirit of this special area, outstanding houses should be built, and she hoped that the sacrifice of the development would be worthwhile.

The Chair then invited Jamie McArthur from Bellway Homes to address the meeting.  Mr McArthur informed the Committee that this phase, situated in the St Nicholas and Rectory lane Conservation Area, included a range of larger aspirational homes encouraging higher earners to live in the Town.  The site wide infrastructure works required to support the development were well underway.

The Chair thanked both speakers for their contributions to the meeting.

The Principal Planning Officer advised that paragraph 9.3 within the Local Plan acknowledged that some harm would be caused by the introduction of housing in this area but that the social and economic benefits gained from the development would outweigh the harm caused.

Members were advised that this phase was made up predominantly of detached dwellings, with some pairs of semi-detached houses.  Being located in the Conservation Area the phase included the requirement to provide aspirational homes, which were larger dwellings with larger external garden areas.  The housing density in this area was much lower than the rest of the site at 24 dwellings per hectare which fit within the parameter density approved under the outline of 15 to 30 dwellings per hectare. 

Parking would typically be provided by way of driveways and garages, with access off shared surface roads.  Boundary treatments were made up of black three or five bar railings and hedges.  Additional planting was provided along the eastern boundary of the phase.  This phase of the development included for foot/cycleway connections with phase 1B, the southern bridleway and the proposed Country Park.  

Members were informed that vehicular access would be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3