Agenda item

The Head of Planning and Building Control recommended that in respect of application 3/19/1826/FUL, planning permission be granted subject to a legal agreement and subject to the conditions detailed in the report now submitted.

The Principal Planning Officer, on behalf of the Head of Planning and Building Control, said that the word “draft” should be inserted before the word conditions in the recommendation.  Members were also being asked to approve delegated authority to the Head of Planning and Building Control to finalise the detail of the Legal Agreement and Conditions.

The Principal Planning Officer summarised the application and detailed the location of the site.  She detailed the mix of accommodation of 1 and 2 bed flats and 2 to 5 bed houses and said that the application was policy compliant with 40% affordable housing.  Members were shown a layout plan of site which detailed the location of the affordable housing.

Members were advised that that the largest building would overlook the central square and at 12 metres in height was of an appropriate scale so as not to be overly dominant.  The Principal Planning Officer said that there would be electric vehicle charging points.

Member were also advised that conditions 4, 5 and 7 included full details of landscaping with details to be submitted and agreed by Planning Officers.   The Principal Planning Officer said that there had been local objections in respect of highways safety and congestion.  She said that there would be a shared cycle storage area and reported that the application met the adopted maximum parking standards.

The Principal Planning Officer said loss of garages was covered by conditions 11 and 14 and Hertfordshire Highways believed that any increase in traffic would not be excessive in terms of congestion.  She said that the construction management plan must include consultation with Bengeo School.

Members were advised that the site was located in a groundwater protection zone and contamination prevention measures were required to prevent contamination of groundwater.

The Principal Planning Officer confirmed that a legal agreement was proposed to secure the affordable housing provision.

The Principal Planning Officer concluded that the overall scheme was in accordance with adopted District Plan policies and the master plan document for this site. 

Kim Rickards addressed the Committee in support of the application.

Councillor Ruffles referred to the master planning process and said that an important point was pedestrian safety in terms of the availability of safe crossing points.  He said that the reference to Wadesmill Lane was incorrect and should have read Watermill Lane.

Councillor Beckett made reference to the concerns of the Crime Prevention Design Officer regarding the lack of oversight of the proposed car parking area.  The Principal Planning Officer detailed the location of Wadesmill Lane and Watermill Road.  She said that this was an allocated site in the District Plan for this level of housing.

Members were advised that the parking area was hidden and whilst this was not ideal, the area was overlooked by windows to the rear elevation of the proposed development.  Councillor R Buckmaster said that the proposed flood test pits would be slow to drain.  The Principal Planning Officer said that there was sufficient land for the retention of ancient hedgerows.

Councillor R Buckmaster sought clarification from Officers in respect of condition 11 regarding the use of garages and car ports.  The Principal Planning Officer said that converting the garages or car ports would require the occupants to make a planning application.  Councillor Crystall said that the pedestrian routes should be completed before the dwellings were occupied.

Councillor Beckett proposed and Councillor Ruffles seconded, a motion that in respect of application 3/19/1826/FUL, the Committee support the recommendation for approval, subject to a legal agreement and subject to the draft conditions detailed in the report now submitted and that authority be delegated to the Head and Planning and Building Control to finalise the detail of the legal agreement and the conditions.

After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, this motion was declared CARRIED.  The Committee supported the recommendation of the Head of Planning and Building Control as now submitted.

RESOLVED – that (A) in respect of applications 3/19/1826/FUL, the Committee support the recommendation for approval, subject to a legal agreement and subject to the draft conditions detailed in the report now submitted; and

(B)   authority be delegated to the Head and Planning and Building Control to finalise the detail of the legal agreement and the conditions.