Agenda and minutes

Venue: Birchwood High School, Parsonage Lane, Bishop's Stortford, CM23 5BD

Contact: Peter Mannings  Tel: (01279) 502174 Email:  peter.mannings@eastherts.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

409.

Appointment of Vice-Chairman

Minutes:

It was proposed by Councillor P Ruffles and seconded by Councillor M Allen that Councillor J Goodeve be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Development Management Committee for the remainder of the 2017/18 civic year.

 

After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, Councillor J Goodeve was appointed Vice-Chairman of the Development Management Committee for the remainder of the 2017/18 civic year.

 

RESOLVED – that Councillor J Goodeve be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Development Management Committee for the remainder of the 2017/18 civic year.

 

410.

Apologies

To receive apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors R Brunton and J Jones .  It was noted that Councillor P Boylan was substituting for Councillor J Jones.

 

411.

Chairman's Announcements

Minutes:

The Chairman welcomed the press and public and outlined the housekeeping arrangements.

 

The Chairman thanked Councillor M Freeman for his loyal service to the Committee and in particular as Vice-Chairman in bringing balance and objectivity to the Member debate.  The Chairman wished him well and the Committee expressed their thoughts and best wishes.

 

The Chairman introduced and welcomed Councillor Tony Stowe to his first meeting as a Member of the Committee.

 

412.

Minutes - 21 June 2017

To amend by resolution the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on Wednesday 21 June 2017, in respect of the following paragraph in Minute 59:

 

Councillor P Boylan declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in application 3/17/0239/FUL, on the grounds that he had previous involvement with the application in his capacity as Chairman of Braughing Parish Council.  He addressed the Committee as the adjacent ward Member then sat separately to the Committee and took no part in the debate or vote.

Minutes:

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the meeting held on 21 June 2017 be amended by resolution in respect of the second paragraph in Minute 59, as follows:

 

Councillor P Boylan declared an interest in application 3/17/0239/FUL, on the grounds that he had previous involvement with the application in his capacity as Chairman of Braughing Parish Council.  He addressed the Committee as the adjacent ward Member then sat separately to the Committee and took no part in the debate or vote.

 

413.

Minutes - 31 January 2018 pdf icon PDF 108 KB

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on Wednesday 31 January 2018.

Minutes:

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the meeting held on 31 January 2018 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

 

414.

3/17/2588/OUT - A hybrid planning application (part detail/ part outline) for the comprehensive redevelopment of the 5.82ha Goods Yard site for mixed use purposes at the Bishop's Stortford Goods Yard, Station Road, Bishop's Stortford for Solum Regeneration (Bishops) LLP pdf icon PDF 420 KB

Recommended for Approval.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Head of Planning and Building Control recommended that, in respect of application 3/17/2588/OUT, subject to a legal agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) , planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report now submitted.

 

The Head introduced the application and welcomed Steve Walker from Allies and Morrison and Mark Youngman from Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) Highways Authority to the meeting.  The Head detailed the policy background and stated that the consultation on the emerging District Plan had concluded on 29 March 2018.  Substantial weight could be applied to the District Plan due to its considerable advanced status.

 

The Head also referred to the Bishop’s Stortford Town Centre planning framework and the Neighbourhood Plan for Bishop’s Stortford Central, South and Part of Thorley.  Members were also referred to the Additional Representations Summary, which would be online from 28 March 2018.  Concerns that had been raised in respect of noise from the adjacent flour mill had been addressed by amendments to conditions as detailed in the Additional Representations Summary.

 

The Head advised that this key town centre site had been identified in the East Herts Local Plan Second Review April 2007 as suitable for comprehensive redevelopment.  The emerging District Plan had also identified the Goods Yard as a strategic development site for at least 600 dwellings as well as a significant amount of B1 office space.  Members were provided with a detailed summary of the proposed development as well as a reminder of the relevant planning history.  The Head concluded that this was a complex application and emphasised that the scheme broadly met the objectives of all policy documents relevant to the Bishop’s Stortford Goods Yard.

 

The Officer from Allies and Morrison addressed the Committee in his capacity as the Urban Design Advisor to the Authority.  He referred to a clearly defined urban form and he stated that the industrial elements had been well worked through.  He stated that the proposed under croft car parking would contribute to improving the quality of the public realm.

 

The HCC Highways Officer commented that, as a statutory consultee, an objection had not been made to the scheme refused by the Committee on 17 May 2017 as that application had been a more sustainable proposal.  He summarised the reasons why HCC Highways felt this scheme was less sustainable and therefore the Highways Authority was maintaining an objection to this application.  He referred in particular, to the recommendation for refusal on the basis that the Highway Authority did not support the principle of an all vehicle link road through the site. 

 

Members were also advised that there was concern that the new link road would not serve to calm or restrict traffic flow and the level of car parking was a concern to HCC Highways.  There were also concerns over the effect of the application in reducing the size of the Bishop’s Stortford bus station.

 

The following addressed the Committee in objection to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 414.

415.

Items for Reporting and Noting pdf icon PDF 75 KB

(A)  Appeals against refusal of Planning Permission/ non?determination.

 

(B)  Planning Appeals Lodged.

 

(C)      Planning Appeals: Inquiry and Informal Hearing Dates.

 

(D)     Planning Statistics.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED – that the following reports be noted:

 

(A)   Appeals against refusal of planning permission / non-determination;

 

(B)       Planning Appeals lodged;

 

(C)       Planning Appeals: Inquiry and Informal Hearing dates; and

 

(D)      Planning Statistics.