Issue - meetings

Application for proposed erection of nine dwelling houses (outline application - all matters reserved).

Late items received after preparation of agenda:

Recommendation:-

1.1.    The following comments have been received from LCC Ecology since the report was finalised which states the following:

"I have reviewed the amended Biodiversity Net Gain Assessment and feel that it is acceptable for this outline stage. As additional enhancements it would also be nice to see integrated bird and bat boxes within the buildings. The Biodiversity and Enhancement Management Plan can be submitted at the reserved matters stage when the site details are finalised. As such I recommend that the following condition is attached to any outline planning permission:

No development (including vegetation clearance) shall take place until an ecological mitigation, compensation and enhancement strategy has been submitted to and approved in writing by the LPA. This should include details of how a 10% Biodiversity Net Gain will be achieved. Any mitigation, compensation or enhancement measures need to be clearly shown on all relevant submitted plans/elevations. All works are to proceed strictly in accordance with the approved scheme."

The case officer has requested that members discuss whether condition 12 should be amended as per the recommended comments from LCC Ecology or remain as the below;

12.         No development shall take place (including ground works or vegetation clearance) until a Biodiversity Gains Plan has been submitted to and approved in writing by the LPA. This is to be based on the Biodiversity Net Gain Assessment (V2) undertaken by B J Collins Protected Species Surveyors [Aug 2022] and the accompanying baseline metric spreadsheet V2 [25/08/2022] and is to provide net gain on the reported loss. The plan shall include the following details:

a)        Description and location plan of land to be used for off-setting or off-site enhancement;

b)         description and evaluation of the features to be managed/created on site;

c)         aims and objectives of management;

d)         appropriate management options for achieving aims and objectives

e)         prescriptions for management actions

f)          work schedule

g)         seed mixes/species to be sown/planted

h)         ongoing monitoring and remedial measures

i)          details on the mechanism by which this plan is to be legally secured for a period of 30 years

The plan will be supported by a BNG metric calculation using the latest DEFRA version of the metric. The approved plan will be implemented in accordance with the approved details.

Reason: To conserve and enhance features of nature conservation and ecological value in accordance with Policy DM6 of the Site Allocations and Development Management Policies DPD 2016.

Application for erection of nine dwelling houses (outline application – all matters reserved).

Councillor W Crooks, having declared a non-registrable interest in this application, spoke and subsequently left the meeting at 6.43pm.

The agent spoke on this application.

Notwithstanding the officer’s recommendation that permission be granted, Councillor Bray, seconded by Councillor R Allen, proposed that permission be refused as the development would intrude into and impact upon the countryside and was therefore contrary to policy DM4 of the Site Allocations and Development Management Policies DPD. Upon being put to the vote, the motion was CARRIED and it was

RESOLVED – permission be refused due to intrusion into and impact upon the countryside contrary to policy DM4 of the Site Allocations and Development Management Policies DPD.

Councillor W Crooks returned to the meeting at 6.48pm.