Agenda item

Outline application for the erection of 17no. dwellings with associated access.

The Committee considered an outline application for the erection of 17 dwellings with associated access.

 

Cllr Louie O’Leary did not take part in the debate or vote on this application.

 

The Senior Planning officer presented the application that included an aerial photo, red line plan, indicative site plan and photos of the site.

 

The key planning issues were outlined as follows:-

 

·       Principle of development – within the defined development boundary

·       Residential amenity

·       Visual amenity

·       Flooding & drainage

·       Biodiversity

·       Affordable housing

 

Details of an amendment to one of the conditions and an additional representation were contained in the update sheet circulated to the committee prior to the meeting

 

The Technical Support Officer read out a written representation which is attached to the minutes of this meeting.

 

Cllr Louie O’Leary addressed the Committee as the ward member, highlighting flood risk and the lack of facilities and infrastructure to support the large developments taking place in Littlemoor.

 

The Senior Planning Officer responded that the highways and flood teams raised no objection to the application.  She confirmed that the basin was currently overgrown and would be cleared so that it could be used for attenuation of surface water.

 

Two members expressed concerns in relation to overdevelopment, impact on nature, insufficient infrastructure / facilities and safety concerns in relation to the attenuation ponds.

 

The Area Manager – Western and Southern Team advised that infrastructure provision was included within the larger developments in that area and that fencing around the pond could be secured as part of a reserve matters application.

 

The Committee noted that Weymouth Town Council welcomed the scheme and that the statutory consultees had no objections.

 

Proposed by Cllr Nick Ireland, seconded by Cllr Susan Cocking.

 

The Committee was minded to approve the application in line with the report recommendations and amended condition contained in the update sheet.

The Service Manager for Development Management and Enforcement, having considered the representations and the officer’s presentation, and having taken into account the views of the committee, made the following decision under delegated authority.

 

Decision of the Service Manager:

(A): That authority be delegated to the Head of Planning to grant, subject to the conditions outlined in the appendix to these minutes, and the completion of a legal agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) in a form to be agreed by the Legal Services Manager to secure the following:

 

The provision of an affordable housing financial contribution of £31,565.00 index linked, a financial contribution of £4128.00 for woodland compensation and a financial contribution of £15,120.00 for slow worm translocation.

 

(B): That authority be delegated to the Head of Planning to refuse permission for the reasons set out below if the legal agreement is not completed within 6 months of the date of the committee resolution or such extended time as agreed by the Head of Planning.

 

1) In the absence of a satisfactory completed Section 106 agreement the scheme fails to ensure provision of the affordable housing financial contribution for off-site provision. Hence the scheme is contrary to policy HOUS 1 of the West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland Local Plan 2015 and the National Planning Policy Framework (2021).

 

2) In the absence of a satisfactory completed S106 agreement the scheme fails to provide adequate compensatory biodiversity/nature conservation measures through the provision of a financial contribution for woodland compensation and financial contribution for the translocation of slow worms. Hence the scheme is contrary to policy ENV 2 of the West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland Local Plan and Section 15 of the National Planning Policy Framework (2021).

 

Cllr Louie O’Leary left the meeting at this juncture.