Agenda item

Erect 162 No. dwellings, form vehicular access, parking, landscaping, open space and carry out ancillary works.

The Lead Project Officer introduced the application to erect 162 No. dwellings, form vehicular access, parking, landscaping, open space and carry out ancillary works.

The Lead Project Officer presented his report to Members. The Committee was shown the location of the site, which is near an AONB, and various photographs of the site from different views. In 2016 an application was approved for 191 dwellings on the site; however, this current proposal was for 162 dwellings on the site, the main differences were highlighted to members, which included increased affordable housing. Members’ attention was drawn to elevations of street scenes and dwellings, and the proposed landscaping, which showed the proposed appearance of the development. The recommendation was to grant planning permission.

The Technical Support Officer read the representations which are attached as an annexure to these minutes. The Lead Project Officer responded to the representations with some points of clarification.

Members’ Questions and Comments

Members asked several questions which related to the application. Officers responded to the questions and confirmed that:

·         Refuse collection vehicles turning on the development had been catered for.

·         No renewables had been put forward by the applicant.

·         There was less traffic predicted compared to an application for this site in 2016. The reduced traffic movement was considered acceptable.

·         The site is near an AONB but not within it.

·         Condition 4 was a proposed lighting condition.

·         There should be 30% affordable housing due to the development being an extension of the settlement of Shaftesbury.

·         The building materials secured by condition 3 should include some Shaftesbury Stone.

·         Blinds in windows would be difficult to condition.

·         It is not reasonable to enforce domestic lighting levels.

·         A condition could be added for the applicant to provide further information about sustainability, prior to construction.

At 13.14 the meeting was adjourned until 14.00. Upon reconvening a vote was taken to extend the meeting as the duration was longer than 3 hours. Proposed by Cllr Mary Penfold and seconded by Cllr Jon Andrews. The vote was carried.

It was the view of the committee that Shaftesbury Stone was included in the building materials, and they did not expect it to be reduced, as Shaftesbury was famous for its stone. The committee also did not wish to see render introduced at a later date.

Proposed by Cllr Les Fry, seconded by Cllr Jon Andrews. 

The Committee were ‘minded to’ grant the application, subject to conditions and an additional Sustainability Statement condition.

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: that the application be granted, subject to conditions and an additional Sustainability Statement condition.

Decision: That the application be granted, subject to the conditions outlined in the appendix attached to these minutes.

Sustainability Statement Condition:

Prior to the commencement of the development above damp course level, a Sustainability Statement shall be submitted to the local planning authority for approval in writing. The statement shall include details of the proposed renewable technology measures. The construction of the dwellings shall fully accord with the approved statement.

Reason: to ensure that the development includes sustainably measures.