Issue - meetings

Application for residential development of up to 80 dwellings and associated works (Outline- access only).

‘Late items:’

Introduction:-

Since the publication of the committee report, additional information has been received.

Consultations:-

A letter has been received from Pegasus Group which represents Davidsons Developments Ltd. They raise concerns as summarised below:

• The statements made by Desford Parish Council could be extremely misleading as there are significant unresolved issues with the Neighbourhood Plan, especially in the way it has undertaken its site selection process. Davidsons has made representations to the Regulation 14 consultation highlighting significant inconsistencies in the site selection process and the way in which conclusions have been reached.

• As such, they consider that the officer's report is correct to refer to the limited weight that can be afforded to the Neighbourhood Plan in the light of paragraph 48 of the NPPF especially with regard to "the extent to which there are unresolved objections."

Appraisal:-

The advice in paragraphs 8.11 - 8.14 of the Planning Committee Report dated 25 June 2019 remains unaltered in that the emerging Desford Neighbourhood Plan (DNP) is a material consideration in this decision making process and the weight to be given to it is set out in paragraph 48 of the Framework. Factors to be considered to the weight to be given to the DNP include the stage of preparation of the plan and the extent to which there are unresolved objections to relevant policies. Therefore, the weight to be given to the DNP at the present time is very limited due to the early stages of its development and the lack of evidence of community support for this preferred site.

Recommendation:-

The recommendation remains to grant planning permission subject to the details outlined in the original Planning Committee Report.

Application for residential development of up to 80 dwellings and associated works (outline – access only).

It was moved by Councillor Cartwright that permission be granted subject to the conditions in the officer’s report, that it be noted that the committee endorsed the condition of delivery within 18 months and that any amendment to the S106 agreement of a minor nature be delegated to the Head of Planning in consultation with the ward councillor(s) and major amendments be brought back to the Planning Committee. The motion was not seconded at this stage.

It was moved by Councillor R Allen and seconded by Councillor Boothby that permission be refused due to being contrary to policy DM4.

Councillor Walker then seconded Councillor Cartwright’s motion to grant permission.

The chairman requested an adjournment to seek procedural advice and the meeting adjourned at 7.45pm and reconvened at 7.50pm.

As the first valid motion, Councillor Allen’s motion was put to the vote and subsequently LOST.

Councillor Cartwright’s motion was put to the vote and CARRIED and it was therefore

RESOLVED – permission be granted subject to:

(i)            The prior completion of a S106 agreement to secure the following obligations:

a.    £640,098 towards education

b.    £184,785 towards provision and maintenance of play and open space

c.    40% affordable housing provision on-site with a mix of 75% social or affordable rent and 25% intermediate tenure and a mix of 66% of the rented accommodation to be two-bedroomed houses and a remainder as a mix of one-bedroomed accommodation. The intermediate tenure should be a mix of two and three bedroomed houses

d.    £51,840 health care provision at Desford and Ratby surgeries

e.    Suitable highways mitigation including:

·         Travel packs at a cost of £52.85 per pack

·         Six month bus passes, two per dwelling at £360 per pass

·         Residential travel plan monitoring fee of £6,000

·         Travel plan co-ordinator

f.     £3,962 towards civic amenity at Barwell

g.    £2,410 for library services at Desford library

h.    Provision of footpath links across Barns Way

(ii)           The conditions contained in the officer’s report;

(iii)          The conditions relating to delivery within 18 months be endorsed;

(iv)         Any amendment to the S106 agreement of a minor nature be delegated to the Head of Planning in consultation with the relevant ward councillor(s) and of a major nature be brought back to Planning Committee.

Application for residential development of up to 80 dwellings and associated works (outline – access only).

‘Late items:’

Proposal:- Residential development of up to 80 dwellings and associated works (Outline- access only)

Appraisal:-

A contribution request was made by University Hospitals Leicester NHS Trust (UHL) for £40,235.00 towards the gap in the funding created by each potential patient from the development in respect of A&E and planned care. The evidence provided by the UHL is not sufficiently robust to conclude that the CIL Regulation 122 test can be satisfied. Therefore the contribution is not considered to be CIL compliant and will not be sought for this development.

Recommendation:-

The recommendation remains to grant planning permission subject to the details outlined in the original Planning Committee Report.

Application for residential development of up to 80 dwellings and associated works (outline – access only).

Notwithstanding the officer’s recommendation that permission be granted, it was moved by Councillor R Allen and seconded by Councillor Boothby that members be minded to refuse permission due to being outside of the settlement boundary and the harm to the countryside, contrary to policy DM4, outweighing the benefits of development. Upon being put to the vote, the motion was CARRIED and it was

RESOLVED – members be minded to refuse permission and the application be brought back to a future meeting.