Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

An apology for absence was submitted on behalf of Councillor R Buckmaster.

Councillor Deering said that this was the last meeting of the Development Management Committee in this administration as there were local council in elections in May. He thanked Members for their work over the last four years.

Councillor Deering thanked Councillor Ruffles who had served on the Committee for several administrations. He also thanked Officers for their support to the Committee.

Councillor Deering expressed his thanks to Councillors Andrews, Page and Ruffles who had all chaired the committee in the past.

To receive any Members' declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of interest.

Recommended for Approval

The Head of Planning and Building Control recommended that in respect of application 3/22/1030/OUT, planning permission be granted subject to a Section 106 legal agreement and the conditions set out at the end of the report.

The Principal Planning Officer referred to the planning history of adjacent sites and presented a detailed series of plans and visuals in respect of the application site for two parcels of land to the north side of Buntingford. He highlighted a relatively new road, Neale Drive, which intersects the two parcels of land.

The Principal Planning Officer advised that the application was on a site that had been identified in the District Plan for housing development and some parts of the site had already come forward and been built out for development.

The Principal Planning Officer referred to the master planning process and referred to the design principles which included the promotion of active travel and walking and cycling links from the site down towards the town centre.

The Principal Planning Officer presented a series of illustrative plans for how the site could be built out to meet the principles in the masterplan. He referred to the comments from the Conservation and Design Officers in respect of frontages onto Neale Drive and pedestrian links.

The Principal Planning Officer summarised the addendum report which contained four additional letters. He said that Neale Drive had not been opened fully and was not adopted due to ongoing discussions between Redrow Homes and Hertfordshire County Council. Members were advised that once these discussions had concluded a few more minor measures were required at the junction between Neale Drive and Ermine Street before Neale Drive could be adopted and opened to the public.

Members were advised that planning conditions had been applied which meant that the developer could not commence the development until Neale Drive was open and ready for use.

Mr Rob Snowling addressed the Committee in support of the application. Councillor Jones addressed the Committee as the local ward Member.

Members were advised that Officers could not identify any planning reasons for deferring the application and Officers had recommended it for approval as it accorded with planning policies. The Principal Planning Officer said that Neale Drive was essential for accessing this development and Officers were satisfied that the proposed planning conditions would ensure that Neale Drive would allow the development to be accessed. He referred to a condition for a construction management plan which required details of the construction traffic routings.

The Service Manager (Development Management) said that Officers had been in contact with the highways authority who had provided assurances that the Section 278 works would be undertaken in the summer of 2023. Members were reminded that this was an outline application and Officers were satisfied that by the time development could commence, the works to Neale Drive will have been underway or completed.

Members were advised that Officers could apply a further compliance condition that would stipulate that the development cannot commence until Neale Drive  ...  view the full minutes text for item 422.

Recommended for Approval

The Head of Planning and Building Control recommended that in respect of application 3/22/2200/FUL, planning permission be granted subject to a Section 106 legal agreement and the conditions set out at the end of the report.

The Service Manager (Development Management) detailed the location of the site and presented a detailed series of visuals and aerial photographs in respect of the application site. Members were advised that the site was an allocated site for employment in the East Herts District Plan.

The Service Manager (Development Manager) detailed the proposed access and summarised the key features of the development. The proposals would represent an uplift of approximately 2,300 square metres over and above the previous floor space provided on site.

The Service Manager (Development Management) said that the scale and design of the buildings were considered appropriate for the locality. She said that the exact specifications for the materials will need to be submitted for approval and secured by condition.

Members were advised that the proposals included passive design and energy efficiency measures including air source heat pumps. Members were advised that the energy statement demonstrates that the development could achieve BREEAM excellence and the requirement to meet this commitment would be secured by condition.

The Service Manager (Development Management) said that there would be 217 parking spaces, 24 of which will be active electric vehicle charging spaces and there would also be disability parking and 76 cycle spaces.

Members were advised that the plans were amended to provide more space and better legibility for pedestrians and cyclists to move through the site and to accommodate additional soft landscaping. There will be some losses to category B and C trees and there would be a robust planting scheme for 170 new trees.

The Service Manager (Development Management) said that there were also commitments around integrated swift boxes and other ecological improvement measures. Members were advised that the proposals demonstrate a 40% biodiversity net gain.

Members were advised that the highway authority had raised concerns in response to the public consultation about the vehicular access arrangements for the site, and for the potential for rat running between John Tate Road and Ware Road once the southern access had been opened. The Service Manager (Development Management) said that measures had been incorporated into the scheme to prevent this from happening. She referred to modal filters to restrict any vehicles, except for unit 12, from accessing or leaving the site via Caxton Hill.

The Service Manager said that concerns had been expressed by the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) about the discharge rate of water from the site and surface water draining. The applicant had submitted further details which had sought to address these concerns and Officers were satisfied they were sufficient to address the concerns of the LLFA.

Members were advised that a condition had been applied to require surface water to be intercepted so that it did not discharge on the highway. Officers were satisfied that other matters such as contamination  ...  view the full minutes text for item 423.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on Thursday 23 March 2023.

The approval of the minutes had been moved down the Agenda on the advice of the Legal Services Manager following comments from Councillors Andrews, Kemp and Redfern in respect of the accuracy of the minutes.

The Legal Services Manager suggested that there be a 5-minute adjournment for the Democratic Services Officer to liaise with Councillor Kemp as to the revisions that he would like to that part of the minutes.

Councillor Beckett proposed and Councillor Fernando seconded, a motion for an adjournment from 21:40 to 21:45. After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that the meeting be adjourned for 5 minutes from 21:40 to 21:45.

The meeting reconvened at 21:45.

Councillor Redfern proposed and Councillor Page seconded, a motion that the Minutes of the meeting held on 23 March 2023 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman, subject to the following amendment:

Minute 416 – 3/19/2124/OUT - Outline Planning Application at Land Off Church Lane, North of The A414, Hunsdon And Eastwick, Hertfordshire:

Delete in 62^nd paragraph – ‘Councillor Kemp said that the conditions should not rule out the use of Church Lane, Hunsdon was not ruled out as a possible alternative route for through traffic.’

Replace with – ‘Councillor Kemp said that the conditions should not rule out the use of Church Lane as a possible alternative route for through traffic to Hunsdon and the Hadhams, regardless of the route of the STC, to avoid unnecessary vehicular traffic through the centre of Village 7. Officers confirmed that the existing route of Church Lane was not ruled out as a possible alternative route for through traffic.’

After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED. Councillor Newton abstained from voting as she had not been present at the meeting on 23 March 2023.

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the meeting held on 23 March 2023 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman, subject to the following amendment:

Minute 416 – 3/19/2124/OUT - Outline Planning Application at Land Off Church Lane, North of The A414, Hunsdon And Eastwick, Hertfordshire:

Delete in 62^nd paragraph – ‘Councillor Kemp said that the conditions should not rule out the use of Church Lane, Hunsdon was not ruled out as a possible alternative route for through traffic.’

Replace with – ‘Councillor Kemp said that the conditions should not rule out the use of Church Lane as a possible alternative route for through traffic to Hunsdon and the Hadhams, regardless of the route of the STC, to avoid unnecessary vehicular traffic through the centre of Village 7. Officers confirmed that the existing route of Church Lane was not ruled out as a possible alternative route for through traffic.’

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. Councillor Deering thanked any member of the public that had participated in the meetings of the Development Management Committee.

Councillor Deering said that he was pleased to inform Members that at 2 am this morning he became a grandfather for the second time and he now had two granddaughters.