Agenda item

Residential development of 116 dwellings

Late items:

Consultations:-

There is amendment to the report at 5.3.  There have been 11 letters of objection and no letters of support.  Additional objections have raised the following points:-

1)      The layout of the development has a large cluster of affordable units within a small area of the site undermining Policy H6 of the emerging NDP

2)      The site does not provide for housing that meet M(4) of Building Regulations, wheelchair access homes contrary to Policy H1 of the emerging NDP

3)      Erecting traffic lights will undermine the visual amenity of the area, leading to an urbanisation of the setting

4)      Money towards the doctors is not enough, especially if to be shared with Desford

Newbold Verdon Parish Council have provided the following additional comments:-

1)         Whilst there is a traffic flow measure in the form of traffic lights, a roundabout which was first proposed is believed to be a better solution to avoid urbanisation of the rural landscape

2)         Whilst technically there are 3 clusters of affordable housing, the fact is they are next to each other, which creates a large group of 37, which undermines Policy H6 of the Neighbour Plan

3)         There is a disproportionately small amount of money to be spent at the Doctors Surgery of Newbold Verdon which is shared with Desford. This amount is not sufficient.

4)         Can it be confirmed that Bloors will be setting aside funds to help pay for the adaption of dwellings for people who require help with mobility, to accord with Policy H5 within the neighbourhood plan

Updated consultation responses to be received from:- 

LCC (Highways)

Appraisal:-

Impact upon highway safety and transport

Since the publishing of the committee report, an updated response has been received from Leicestershire County Council (Highways) following an updated internal layout plan. As confirmed in the committee report there is no objection to the proposal, however further works were required to the internal layout to ensure the proposal would be constructed to an adoptable standard. The revised internal layout has been considered by Leicestershire County Council (Highways) who have confirmed that the proposed development would be suitable for adoption.

A roundabout was initially considered at the Junction with B585 Bosworth Lane / B585 Barlestone Road as outline in Policy H1 of the Newbold Verdon Neighbourhood Plan. However due to underground services which would add significant cost to the proposals and there is no technical evidence within the Neighbourhood Plan which justifies the need for the roundabout, the applicant has proposed a signalised junction. LCC (highways) have considered the proposed signalised junction, and have no objection. The proposed junction works as proposed on WYG Drawing No.101 Rev D, have been subject to a stage 1 Road Safety Audit and capacity study, and will be subject to detailed design stage through a S.278 agreement.

The scheme also proposes to reduce the speed limited in the area to 40mph, this would extend the existing 40mph on Barlestone Road north of the proposed signalised junction. This is considered necessary to ensure the proposed signals are within a 40mph speed limit. LCC (highways) also seek a contribution of £7,500 in order to process the necessary Traffic Regulation Order, which would be sought through any S.106. The required off site works and obligations are considered necessary to mitigate the impact upon the highway, and are therefore considered CIL compliant.

Other matters

Comments have been received due to the lack of obligations towards the local doctor’s practice.  Obligations can only be sought to address the deficiencies in the services at Newbold Verdon to mitigate the impact of this development upon those services. As per 8.93 of the committee report, the West Leicestershire CCG has been consulted, and has advised that the surgery is currently using its clinical rooms to full capacity and cannot employ additional clinicians without an increase in clinical space, and therefore seek to request S106 healthcare contributions to extend and undertake an internal reconfiguration to increase the clinical space available to patients. It is considered that the development is likely to result in 170 patients, and the total cost of providing the additional identified clinical accommodation for the forecasted patients would equate to £58,790.82. The cost per sqm has been identified by a quantity surveyor experienced in health care projects. The extent of the Health Care contribution is directly related in scale and kind to the development.

In light of the comments from the Parish the applicant has also confirmed that they are willing to include a provision within the S106 provision for the adaption of one of the affordable units for wheelchair users should the need arise.

Since the report was published we have also been notified by the Neighbourhood Plan Group that the Neighbourhood  Plan has gone back a stage in the process, but the site, the subject of this application, remains their preferred site.  As set out in the report the Neighbourhood Development Plan should therefore be afforded limited weight.

Recommendation:-

The recommendation remains unchanged from as set out on the agenda.

Application for residential development of 116 dwellings

It was moved by Councillor Findlay and seconded by Councillor Bray that permission be granted with the final detail of the conditions to be delegated to the Planning Manager in consultation with the chairman and ward councillors.

Councillor Cartwright proposed an amendment that any application to vary the section 106 agreement be brought back to the Planning Committee and Councillor J Crooks proposed that a condition be added in relation to management of the grassed areas. The mover and seconder of the original motion accepted these amendments.

Upon being put to the vote, the motion was CARRIED and it was

RESOLVED –

(i)            Permission be granted subject to:

a.    The completion within three months of this resolution of a S106 agreement to secure the following obligations:

·         NHS West Leicestershire CCG: £58,790.82

·         Education: £925,038.07

·         Civic amenity: £5,745.00

·         Libraries: £3,380.00

·         Affordable housing: 40%

·         Play and open space: £248,203.28

·         Off-site highway improvements to Bosworth Lane / Barlestone Road junction;

b.    The conditions contained in the officer’s report;

(ii)           The Planning Manager be granted delegated powers to determine the final detail of the planning conditions in consultation with the ward members;

(iii)          The Planning Manager be granted delegated powers to determine the terms of the S106 agreement including trigger points and claw back periods;

(iv)         Any application to vary the S106 contributions be brought back to the Planning Committee.

The meeting adjourned at 7.52pm and reconvened at 8.03pm.