Agenda item

Erection of 6 No. dwellings, form new vehicular access and parking.

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. The biodiversity plan was approved by the natural environment team and conditioned accordingly. The buildings would not overlook neighbours, and the site had been reviewed by the flood authority. The site was acceptable in terms of highway safety and 2 of the properties would be affordable and first homes. The site was within the settlement boundary and the proposal was appropriately designed and laid out.

Public Participation

Mr Eastmond of R & S Consultants addressed the Committee. The site lied within the settlement boundary as defined by local planning policies, these being Policy 2 of the North Dorset Local Plan and Policy SB of the Pimperne Neighbourhood Plan. The proposals are therefore supported in principle, subject to accordance with the other relevant local policies.

Whilst the Council has a ‘fixed’ housing land supply of 5.02-years until 31 October 2025, the recent changes to the NPPF including the updated standard method for calculating local housing need mean that by November 2025 it is likely the Council will no longer have a sufficient supply of deliverable housing sites. The annual local housing need has increased from 1,793 homes to 3,219, meaning 16,095 homes will need to be delivered across a five-year period. The latest information on the supply of housing shows there is currently a 5-year deliverable supply of 8,999 homes, which means there will be a significant shortfall even before the 5% NPPF buffer is factored in.

He underlined that it was imperative that the Council identified suitable, sustainably located sites for development. Developments that accord with the development plan should be supported now, to ensure that by the time the housing land supply protections are removed, the Council has helped deliver enough suitable sites to ensure that more sensitive areas are protected.

He confirmed that the Lead Local Flood Authority, the Tree Officer, Environmental Health, and the Highway Authority all offer no objection to the proposed scheme.

The Case Officer, as set out in her detailed report, did not concur with the objections of the Parish Council and the National landscapes team. She concludes that the scheme would have an acceptable impact on both the character and appearance of the surrounding area, and the National Landscape.

He summarised that the housing development on the site was supported by both the local plan and the neighbourhood plan. There was a significant national and local need for new homes, and the development would help to ensure the Council continues to have a 5-year housing land supply and the site was suitably and sustainably located within Pimperne and the case officer and the majority of technical consultees consider the effects of the scheme would be acceptable. 

Members questions and comments

• Cllr Jespersen commented that she could not support the application on the grounds of Principal Development and needed to defend Pimperne’s Neighbourhood Plan. 150 new homes had been agreed and the application should be built to the West side of the A4 Road as the village would be separated by a big main road.
• Cllr Fry questioned garden and bin access
• Cllr Jones commented that there were no objections from members of the public and if the application was controversial there would be number of people coming to speak, the site was within the settlement boundary and there was no reason for refusal.

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 Jones, and seconded by Cllr Rideout.

Decision: To grant planning permission for the reasons set out in the officer’s report.