Issue - meetings

To consider outline planning permission (all matters reserved) for the erection of 2no. three to four bed dwellings.

It was RESOLVED that outline planning permission be granted subject to the conditions as per the recommendations set out in the report.

The Committee considered an application for outline planning permission (all matters reserved) for the erection of 2no.three or four bed dwellings.

The application was before the Committee for determination as the applicant and landowner was Stevenage Borough Council and there had been more than 5 objections to the application.

The Senior Planning Officer gave an introduction to the Committee.  She advised that the main issues for consideration was its acceptability in land use policy terms.  Only the principle of the development was to be considered at this stage, matters pertaining to access arrangements, parking provision, layout, appearance and landscaping were to be reserved for future consideration as part of a reserved matters application.

An addendum report had been circulated to the Committee which included information relating to a new site survey plan received from Affinity Water which showed a different location of the water pipe.  It was noted that there was ongoing dialogue between the applicant and Affinity Water to discuss their concerns regarding easement width and to form an exact location of the pipe.

The Chair then invited Mr Keith Price, an objector to address the Committee.  Mr Price’s concerns related to the following objections:

·         Objection from Affinity Water that the proposed build would be within the easement (no build) area of a critically important 24 inch water main;

·         Concerns that private ownership of the land without the ability to build would lead to the land becoming derelict;

·         Loss of mature trees and the resulting impact on climate and loss of wildlife habitats;

·         Loss of amenity land and the resulting adverse changes to the appearance of the estate;

·         Increase in parking congestion and resulting potential for harm to people.

The Chair then invited local Councillor Tom Wren to address the Committee.  Cllr Wren also expressed concern regarding the impact on the environment and the loss of the 13 mature trees which demonstrated why the site was unsuitable for development and that there were many alternative sites across the Town more appropriate for this type of development.  Cllr Wren referred to the Council’s climate emergency pledge and that the replacement trees would be small and not able to compensate to what was being lost.  Cllr Wren also expressed concern regarding the water pipe and that there was no accurate mapping of the site.

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

The Senior Planning Officer advised that the site was considered to be a small, underused urban site and the proposed development would support the Council’s aim of delivering homes.  The Committee was also reminded of the presumption in favour of delivering sustainable development. 

The loss of open space with the various trees had been assessed by the Council’s Arboricultural and Conservation Manager who had raised no concerns or objections so long as a financial contribution was secured for the replacement of any tree lost, which was not to be replanted on the site, at a ratio of 3:1 to be planted along the verge of Six  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4