Agenda item

Erection of 108 dwellings and associated infrastructure including informal and formal public open space pursuant, (reserved matters application to determine access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale) following the grant of outline planning permission 2/2018/0036/OUT.

The Case Officer updated the members of the correction of a typo error from paragraph 15.3 from within the report.

With the aid of a visual presentation including plans and aerial photographs, the Case Officer identified the site and explained the proposal and relevant planning policies to members. Photographs of the site along with the illustrative masterplan and proposed street scenes were shown. Details of the number of proposed dwellings, affordable housing, proposed phasing plan, housing mix, parking and building materials were discussed. Members were reminded of the existing Outline approval and the more recently approved 34 dwelling site and public open space to the north of the current proposal. The Case Officer also informed members of the strategic allocation plan, proposed LEAP, traffic calming measures which had received no objections raised by highways. The proposal complied in accordance with the local plan for Gillingham. The recommendation was to grant conditional planning permission subject to the completion of a Section 106 legal agreement signed within six months of a Committee resolution to grant. If the S106 was not signed within that time, then the application would be refused unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Head of Planning.

Public Participation

The agent made a representation to committee, outlining the continued hard work on the proposed site and thanked the officers for their work. Mr Jackson highlighted that the principal of development had already been consented and the application would have provided 108 homes with the inclusion of affordable housing. In addition to this, the agent also discussed open space throughout the site, tree planting and site connections. Mr Jackson felt as though the proposal was compliant and represented a good sustainable development which had many benefits. He hoped members would support the officer’s recommendation.

Members questions and comments

·       Disappointed with the lack of affordable housing provision across the site. 

·       Questions regarding limitations to water consumption.

·       Clarification regarding local amenities.

·       Clarification regarding maintenance of the highway.

·       Members were pleased to see the provision of heat source pumps but were disappointed that there was no inclusion of solar panels.

·       Waste collection

·       Clarification regarding Dorset Council’s updated Sustainability Checklist.

·       Comments regarding development being at adoptive standards.

·       Additional condition to secure water efficiency measures including rainwater harvesting.

Having had the opportunity to discuss the merits of the application and an understanding of all this entailed; having considered the officer’s report and presentation; the written representatives; and what they had heard at the meeting, a motion to APPROVE the officer’s recommendation to GRANT planning permission as recommended, was proposed by Cllr Valerie Pothecry, and seconded by Cllr Les Fry, subject to conditions set out in the officer’s report and an additional condition to secure water efficiency measures including rainwater harvesting that prior to the commencement of development above damp course level, details of measures to limit the water use of the dwellings, including rainwater harvesting, shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The approved measures shall be implemented prior to occupation and maintained in accordance with the approved details thereafter.

Reason: To minimise the impacts of climate change from water consumption arising from the development as required by Policy 3 of the North Dorset Local Plan Part 1 2016.

Decision: To grant the officer’s recommendation for approval, subject to conditions set out in the officer’s report and the additional condition to secure water efficiency measures.