Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

An apology for absence was submitted on behalf of Councillor Newton. It was noted that Councillor Rutland-Barsby was substituting for Councillor Newton.

There were no chairman’s announcements.

To receive any Members' declarations of interest.

Councillor R Buckmaster said that for the purposes of transparency, she needed to declare that her husband, Councillor E Buckmaster, would be addressing the Development Management Committee as a local ward Member. She said that this had no bearing on her role as a Member of the Committee and she had come to the meeting to determine the application with an open mind.

Councillor E Buckmaster said that he was present solely in his capacity as a Member for Hunsdon ward which included the proposed development areas to represent the interests of the people living in those areas and the wider community. He said that he had not shared anything of what he was going to say with any Member of the Committee.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on Wednesday 11 January and 8 February 2023.

Councillor Beckett proposed and Councillor R Buckmaster seconded, a motion that the Minutes of the meetings held on 11 January and 8 February 2023 be confirmed as correct records and signed by the Chairman.

After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED. Councillor Fernando abstained from voting as he had not been present at the meeting held on 8 February 2023.

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the meetings held on 11 January and 8 February 2023, be confirmed as correct records and signed by the Chairman.

The Chairman addressed a couple of procedural matters regarding speaking arrangements in respect of the determination of the application before the Committee.

Councillor Deering said that a statutory consultee, Sue Fogden from the NHS, had registered to speak. He said that Ms Fogden would be allocated a total of 6 minutes to speak at his discretion. Councillor Deering explained that this was consistent with the time for strategic sites and he considered this to be reasonable and proportionate in the circumstances.

Councillor Deering said on Friday 24 February 2023 at 11:59 am, Democratic Services had received an email from Mr Richard Ford in relation to the duration of public speaking time for objectors. The Chairman said that he was obliged to raise this as under the constitution, the Committee can depart as it sees fit from arrangements previously agreed on 8 February 2023.

Councillor Deering summarised the arrangements that had been approved on the 8February 2023 and he said that it had now been requested that the 12 minutes previously agreed be extended to 30 minutes in total to be split between the objectors on the basis that 12 minutes was insufficient for a proposal of this scale and size.

The Legal Services Manager said that the Committee could depart from the arrangements that were previously agreed and given the potential threat of a legal challenge and considering the nature of the request, it would not be unreasonable to agree an extension of time.

The Legal Services Manager said that in the circumstances it would be reasonable and proportionate for Members to agree to extend the time to 25 minutes as opposed to 30 minutes to be split between each objector. She said that there were 5 objectors in total as Mr Ford and Mr Hudson represented the same objector and the same total time would be offered to speakers in favour of the application for fairness.

The Legal Services Manager advised that the speaking arrangements for Eastwick and Gilston and Hunsdon Parish Councils would remain at 12 minutes and the other Parish Councils at 5 minutes as this was considered proportionate. She said that she was aware that all speakers were contacted yesterday afternoon by Democratic Services to advise them that there might be a slight departure in the interests of fairness and transparency.

Councillor Deering proposed and Councillor Fernando seconded, a motion that in accordance with paragraph 6.4.5 in Section 6 – Regulatory Committees of the constitution, the committee agree to depart from the speaking arrangements agreed in minute number 336 of the Development Management Committee meeting held on 8 February 2023, to extend the time for those speaking for or against from 12 minutes to 25 minutes in respect of application 3/19/1045/OUT.

After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that in accordance with paragraph 6.4.5 in Section 6 – Regulatory Committees section of the constitution, the committee agree to depart from the speaking arrangements agreed in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 365.

Recommended for Approval.

The Head of Planning and Building Control recommended that in respect to application 3/19/1045/OUT, planning permission be granted subject to a Section 106 legal agreement first being entered into and the proposed conditions set out at the end of this report and delegated authority be granted to the Head of Planning and Building Control to finalise the detail of the Section 106 Legal Agreement and draft planning conditions annexed (including delegated authority to add to, amend or delete conditions).

The Gilston Area Team Leader set out a comprehensive policy context for the allocated application site and explained in detail the future master planning process including the intended master plan delivery of the proposed 8,500 houses on the 993 hectares that comprised the application site.

Members were advised of the planning history and were reminded of the decisions reached by the Committee in respect of the Central and Eastern Stort Crossings in February 2022 and also of the decision in respect of Fiddlers Bridge. The Gilston Area Team Leader said that a separate application for village 7 for 1,500 homes had been submitted.

The Gilston Area Team Leader summarised the key issues that Members should consider when determining the application. She said that Officers considered that application 3/19/1045/OUT conformed to the requirements of policy GA1 and there was no in principle reason for Members to refuse the application.

The Gilston Area Team Leader set out the intended master plan delivery for the 8,500 homes and explained that the scheme no longer supported the provision of 40% affordable housing for viability reasons. She addressed the committee in respect of the parameter plans and spoke in detail about hedgerow and woodlands buffers and green corridors.

Members were advised that each village would have a village centre for community uses and she spoke at length in respect of building heights and height restrictions across the site. The Gilston Area Team Leader set out the proposed enhancements for protecting the natural environment and said that there was no risk of tidal or groundwater flooding. She also spoke at length in respect of climate change, flood risks and sustainable drainage.

Members were advised of the proposed education provision and the proposed enhancements for protecting and enhancing the natural environment. The Gilston Area Team Leader spoke at length about heritage and ecological assets and talked about the aspiration that 60% of trips would be made by active sustainable modes of transport.

The Gilston Area Team Leader addressed several key transport considerations and detailed the locations of the Village 1 all modes access as well as the interim and final access points for Village 2. The Gilston Area Team Leader touched on the matter of the weight restriction on Eastwick Road and said that the Village 6 access had been worked up on the basis that this would still work should Village 7 not be built. She addressed Members at length regarding the accesses for Villages 6 and 7 and talked about the protection and enhancement of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 366.

To consider such other business as, in the opinion of the Chairman of the meeting, is of sufficient urgency to warrant consideration and is not likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information.

There was no urgent business.