Issue - meetings

The Head of Planning and Building Control recommended that in respect of application 3/24/1457/OUT, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions set out at the end of the report, and subject to the completion of a Section 106 legal agreement.

The Principal Planning Officer highlighted the location of the site adjacent to but outside of the village boundary of Standon and Puckeridge, which was designated as a group one village in the District Plan. Members were advised that the location of the site outside of the village boundary meant that the land was part of the rural area beyond the green belt.

The Principal Planning Officer presented a series of plans, visuals, and detailed elevation drawings. He set out the services and facilities that were available in the vicinity of the site and explained that the site was screened by vegetation along the highway verge of the A120 and was also screened by vegetation along the southern site boundary.

The Principal Planning Officer detailed the key features of the application and talked about the changing land levels within and around the site. He detailed the location of the proposed vehicular access and emergency vehicular access and talked about biodiversity net gain and flood risk.

The Principal Planning Officer detailed the relevant planning history and said that the application would deliver a new and upgraded shared footway and cycleway. He set out in detail the key issues for Members to consider when determining the application and referred the Committee to the published late representations summary.

Lorea Johnston addressed the committee in support of the application. Jacqueline Veater addressed the committee on behalf of Standon Parish Council. Members asked questions and points of clarification of the speakers.

Councillor Bull asked about how the public and private transport infrastructure was to be improved in that particular development. The Principal Planning Officer explained that the heads of terms of the Section 106 legal agreement had identified £250,000 to go towards bus services.

Matthew Armstrong, Hertfordshire Highways, said that the £250,000 was to improve bus services in the vicinity, and this figure was calculated on the basis of £50,000 per year over 5 years and the idea was to enhance weekend services.

Councillor Copley asked for some clarity as to the viability of the cycle path. George Fermer, Hertfordshire Highways, explained that the existing lane was only to South Road. He said that following discussions with the developer, this path would go from the development site to South Fields and there would be drop kerb crossings over the side roads and there would be a buffer zone between the highway, the kerb and the cycle way and this buffer would range from minimum of 0.5m up to a 1m buffer zone. Members were advised that there would be a pedestrian rail at the emergency access to prevent access to the highway. There would also be a grass verge and a foliage adjacent to the A120, and the cycleway would link to local facilities  ...  view the full minutes text for item 379