Issue - meetings

The Executive Member for Planning and Growth presented the recommendation in the report. She said that the WAS3 site had been allocated for 60 homes within the Watton-at-Stone Neighbourhood Plan and was the first plan site that met the requirement in the District Plan to prepare a masterplan.

The Executive Member for Planning and Growth said that there was a strong vision for the site developed by the steering group established to shape the masterplan including council officers, members, and the developer. She said there was a framework for sustainable, low carbon, landscape led development and a strong emphasis on enhancing active travel.

Councillor Glover-Ward proposed that the recommendation in the report be supported. Councillor Thomas seconded the proposal.

Councillor Estop said she welcomed the masterplan and said they were helpful and proactive. She said that she had one concern that the plan was described as a collaborative masterplan between the Parish Council and the steering group but the document is headed as Fairview Homes. She felt that masterplans should have a section to say who was involved in the preparation of the document. She said the developer being involved and working with the community was a good thing.

Councillor Crystall said that was a good point and he had chaired the masterplanning sessions and said he had been impressed by the collaboration between the teams from the community and developer. He said this was a good model of how these things can work well.

The motion to support the recommendation having been proposed and seconded was put to the meeting and upon a vote being taken, was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – That the Land at Walkern Road Masterplan Framework Document, for the Watton-at-Stone Neighbourhood Plan site allocation known as WAS3 be agreed as a material consideration for Development Management purposes.

The Executive Member for Planning and Growth presented the recommendation in the report. She said that the WAS3 site had been allocated for 60 homes within the Watton-at-Stone Neighbourhood Plan and was the first plan site that met the requirement in the District Plan to prepare a masterplan.

The Executive Member for Planning and Growth said that there was a strong vision for the site developed by the steering group established to shape the masterplan including council officers, members, and the developer. She said there was a framework for sustainable, low carbon, landscape led development and a strong emphasis on enhancing active travel.

Councillor Glover-Ward proposed that the recommendation in the report be supported. Councillor Daar seconded the proposal.

Councillor Daar said it would be interesting to hear what local residents thought of the masterplan and its contents.

The Principal Planning Officer said that the masterplan was developed alongside the Neighbourhood Plan so would not have been a surprise to residents as there had been ongoing consultation over the last eight years. She said that this was a positive example of the community being involved in the process and was displayed in the 95% approval vote at the referendum even with two strategic site allocations.

Councillor Hoskin asked if the masterplan leaned on the Neighbourhood Plan and if there was good dialogue between them.

Councillor Glover-Ward said that she presented the Neighbourhood Plan first as the site was allocated in the plan so the masterplan has followed on from the Neighbourhood Plan.

Councillor Crystall said that he had attended the master planning sessions and said there was a positive relationship between the resident group and the developer team.

The motion to support the recommendation having been proposed and seconded was put to the meeting and upon a vote being taken, was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED - To recommend to Council that the Land at Walkern Road Masterplan Framework Document, for the Watton-at-Stone Neighbourhood Plan site allocation known as WAS3, as detailed in Appendix A to this report, be agreed as a material consideration for Development Management purposes.