Agenda item

Erect 15 affordable dwellings and formation of new vehicular access

The Committee considered an application to erect 15 affordable dwellings and formation of new vehicular access.

 

The Chairman, Cllr Simon Christopher addressed the Committee as the Dorset Council - Marshwood Vale Ward Member during public participation and did not take part in the debate of vote on this application.

 

The Vice-Chairman was in the Chair during consideration of this application.

 

Further representations that had been received following publication of the agenda that were included in an update sheet circulated to members prior to the meeting.

 

The Senior Planning Officer presented the application that included an aerial view of Drimpton showing the "gap" between Netherhay and Drimpton prescribed in the Neighbourhool Plan had been respected in this scheme.

The site had only one immediate boundary with a property at 6 Netherhay Lane that was slightly lower than the application site and the proposal was considered to be acceptable in residential amenity terms.

 

A detailed layout plan showed the central vehicular access with a traditional form of development in front of Netherhay Lane that was set back to accommodate mature trees within the frontage bank area that were subject to Tree Preservation Orders.  The development was orientated to take advantage of views towards Seaborough Hill.

 

Various photographs were shown of the site including the public footpaths and road junctions with Netherhay Lane and Chard Road that gave an idea of visibility and in particular the need to go over the stop line to make a safe turn right towards Chard.

 

The private sewage treatment works required an environment agency permit to discharge into the water course.

 

The main planning issues were highlighted including:-

 

• Principle established by the Neighbourhool Plan allocation
• An all affordable housing scheme
• Visual impact on the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
• Residential amenity
• Drainage considerations
• Contribution towards 5-year housing land supply
• Highways issues

 

The Senior Planning Officer informed the Committee that delegated authority was also sought to make minor amendments to Conditions 10 and 13 to ensure compatibility with the Highways adoption process.

 

A number of written representations were received which are attached to these minutes.  Some of these were read out by the Technical Officer at the meeting in accordance with the revised Public Speaking Protocol attached to the agenda.

 

Cllr Simon Christopher, Dorset Council - Marshwood Vale, addressed the Committee in support of the application which was consistent with the Local and Neighbourhood Plans and on an exception site that contributed to the housing land supply.  He considered this to be an innovative scheme incorporating flats and bungalows in a sustainable location not far from the Somerset border where residents could access services and employment.  Drimpton itself was served by facilities including a pub, village hall, football pitch, church and employment sites to the west and north of the village.  Affordable homes built in Powerstock and Marshwood in recent years were more remote from the nearest town than this development was from Drimpton and the lack of pavements and junctions considered as part of this application were common in West Dorset.  Efforts had also been made to provide an alternative pedestrian access to the village.

 

Cllr Nick Ireland commended the application that had the support of the Local and Neighbourhood Plans, residents and the Parish Council.  The scheme also met the housing need for one and two bedroom properties, all of which were 100% affordable housing in perpetuity.  He considered that the junction was typical of the area and the road was 30mph. 

 

The Highways officer confirmed that although there had been some reservations about the junction onto the B3162, this was not the case with the other junction with Netherhay Lane and that the pedestrian linkage was welcomed.  He confirmed that the pathway ran over private land but was a public right of way that joined a public footpath.

 

Members were supportive of the scheme and agreed that narrow lanes were a feature in West Dorset.  They concluded that this was a good scheme that had been designed sensitively and would help keep the village alive.

 

Proposed by Cllr Nick Ireland, seconded by Cllr Kate Wheller.

 

Decision:

A) That authority be delegated to the Head of Planning to grant permission subject to the completion of a legal agreement under Section106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 in a form to be agreed by the Legal Services Manager to secure the following:

 

-               To ensure the development remains as affordable housing in perpetuity,

-               And to ensure the provision/maintenance of the footpath link to the   public right of way

-               And subject to receipt of an acceptable adjusted highways layout plan          (resulting in amended plans list (condition 1) and amended layout plan       reference on condition 10 (levels)

 

and subject to the conditions outlined in the appendix to these minutes.

B) Refuse permission for the reasons set out below if the legal agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) is not completed by 6 months from the date of the committee resolution of such extended time as agreed by the Head of Planning:

 

1.  In the absence of a completed s106 legal agreement the development would not ensure the dwellings are provided as affordable housing. Hence the development would be contrary to policy HOUS2 of the West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland Local Plan (2015) and the National Planning Policy Framework (2019). Furthermore, this would not ensure the new pedestrian link to the right of way is provided and maintained. Hence this would be contrary to policy COM7 of the adopted Local Plan (2015) and the National Planning Policy Framework (2019).