Agenda item

Erection of 7no. dwellings.

Councillor Jean Dunseith did not take part in the debate or vote on this item.  She spoke as the Dorset Council - Chickerell ward member during public participation.

The Committee considered an application for the erection of 7 dwellings on land adjacent to Putton Lane, Chickerell.  The application site was inside the DDB within the wider Local Plan allocation and represented an undeveloped parcel of land that had remained vacant whilst development was constructed around it.

An additional representation raising health and safety issues in relation to the busy junction had been received that was included in an update sheet circulated to members in advance of the meeting.

Members were shown a site plan and aerial photo showing a terrace of 3 properties and a second line of development behind it with two sets of semi- detached units (4 homes in total); elevations and floor plans and photos of the site, including the proposed access and neighbouring properties.

The Senior Planning Officer outlined that the site had previously been earmarked for a GP surgery, that was subsequently considered to be inappropriate due to its size and lack of available transport options. 

Cllr John Worth, Dorset Council - Chickerell Ward, addressed the committee and said that alternative sites had been identified for a medical centre that were subject to further discussions.  He referred to the designation of Chickerell as a rural area in the 1997 Housing Order and paragraph 63 of the NPPF which indicated that affordable housing should not be sought for non-major housing development unless in a rural area.  He felt that a deed of variation should have been applied for prior to consideration of this application due to the non-provision of a GP surgery and the lack of affordable housing.

The Senior Planning Officer confirmed that the affordable housing threshold for rural areas was 5 units if the site was in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and 10 units for this site as it was not in the AONB. The requirement for the Section 106 Agreement to be varied was a separate matter to this application.

Cllr Jean Dunseith, Dorset Council - Chickerell Ward, addressed the committee and stated that she regretted that the Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group had rejected this site for a medical centre as it was relatively central and spacious, although she accepted that it was not ideal.  She was concerned about road safety in the vicinity and that turning the access 90 degrees would provide better sight line for drivers.

A written statement was read out on behalf of the applicant which is attached to these minutes.

The Highways Officer confirmed that the proposal complied with guidance and that the layout of the scheme enabled informal areas of parking within the site.  Tactile paving and parking white lines in relation to the crossing point on the north eastern corner of the site remained under discussion with the developer and would continue to be monitored.

Members were concerned about the availability of land for a health centre with some feeling that the Section 106 Agreement should be re-negotiated to provide a higher financial contribution.  However, they were advised that this was a separate matter, that there remained a lack of certainty around the provision of a GP surgery on other sites and that no financial contribution had been secured at the present time.

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

Decision:

That the application be approved subject to the conditions outlined in the appendix to these minutes.

The meeting was adjourned at 1.00pm for a lunch period.  The committee meeting resumed at 2.00pm.