Agenda item

Recommended for Approval.

Mr Griffiths addressed the Committee in objection to the application.  Mr Livings spoke for the application.

The Head of Planning and Building Control recommended that in respect of application 3/16/2311/OUT, subject to a Section 106 legal agreement, outline planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report now submitted.

The Head summarised the outline application where all matters were reserved apart from the access.  He confirmed that the Council remained in the position where it was unable to demonstrate the availability of sufficient land for house building, therefore, in accordance with the NPPF, it was appropriate to support proposals for sustainable developments unless  significant harmful impacts could be identified as a result.

Councillor D Andrews welcomed the additional car parking and referred to his concerns regarding the highways impact.  He emphasised the importance of the development being well landscaped and expressed concerns that the existing footway was barely adequate.  He also expressed concerns regarding the safety of pedestrians and referred to the loss of the open aspect for the residents of Town Farm Crescent.

Councillor J Kaye commented on the issue of biodiversity and referred to the comments of Thames Water as detailed in paragraph 6.6 of the report submitted.  Councillor M Casey referred to the 8 parking spaces for residents and how these would be controlled as they would be available for the residents of more than 8 existing properties.Councillor J Jones queried why a financial contribution of £2,742 was being sought towards the improvements to the Children’s area at Bishop’s Stortford instead of improvements to Buntingford Library.  Councillor K Warnell referred to amenity and sustainability and stated that he was unclear regarding these aspects of the proposed development.

The Head explained that there were a number of dimensions to the issue of sustainability.  He referred to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) terminology for sustainability and explained that East Herts was not an unsustainable area and the villages were classified as sustainable locations in policy terms.

The Head stated that the bulk of development would always be concentrated in towns with other development permitted to be focussed in the villages.  Members were reminded that a resident travelling out of a village by car to access education and other services was acceptable in sustainability terms.

Members were reminded that this was an outline scheme and the site and the unit sizes could be reconfigured in the reserved matters application.  The Committee need not concern itself unduly therefore, with the relationship with the proposed development and the properties in Town Farm Crescent.

The Head concluded that drainage engineers were satisfied that there was an acceptable Sustainable Urban Drainage Solution (SUDS) and landscaping and biodiversity matters would be resolved via the detailed reserved matters proposal.  Officers were aware that there was a way forward to achieve clear landscape boundaries and a condition could be applied in respect of the allocation of car parking.  Officers could also have a further dialogue with Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) in respect of youth and library services.

The Head responded to a query from Councillor J Goodeve regarding the parking of commercial vehicles.  The Committee accepted the recommendation of the Head of Planning and Building Control as now submitted.

RESOLVED – that in respect of application 3/16/2311/OUT, subject to a Section 106 legal agreement, outline planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report submitted.