Agenda item

Recommended for Approval.

Clare Hutchinson addressed the Committee in support of the application.

The Director of Neighbourhood Services recommended that subject to the applicant or successor in title entering into a legal obligation pursuant to Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, in respect of application 3/14/2023/OP, outline planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report now submitted.

Councillor M Newman, as the local ward Member, stated that there was a very significant point as regards school capacity given that Hunsdon Primary School was at full capacity meaning that any children living in these proposed dwellings would not be able to attend this school.

Councillor Newman stated that the retail provision within the village was very limited and this weighed against the proposed development.  He stressed that there was no train service and the bus services were very irregular, meaning that all shopping trips would involve the use of a car.  Thus, the development was unsustainable in transport terms.

The Director reminded Members that Hunsdon was one of the more sustainable settlements in East Herts due to the category one status of the village.  The emerging District Plan allowed for a 10 % growth or at least 36 additional dwellings for Hunsdon either within the village boundary or in the rural area adjacent to the village periphery.

The Director advised that the Education Authority had not sought a Section 106 obligation in respect of primary school provision and Officers acknowledged that existing and future residents would be very reliant on the private car.

Councillor Newman reiterated the view of Officers that the proposal represented an inappropriate form of development that was contrary to the Council’s rural area policies.  He referred to the waste transfer station that had been first granted a licence 10 years ago.

Councillor Newman emphasised that the entire waste transfer operation was not limited as the conditions of use were unenforceable.  He stressed that East Herts Environmental Health Officers considered that the site was causing a statutory noise nuisance that resulted in significant distress for existing local residents and would cause similar distress for residents of this site.

Councillor P Moore stated she could not support this application due to the impact of the waste transfer operations on the adjacent site.  Members were advised that statutory consultation had not resulted in any requests for a noise assessment in relation to the future occupation of this site.  The Director advised that Members could, however, defer the application to allow an assessment to be undertaken on the impact of noise and disturbance on the future occupants of the properties on this site.

Councillor N Symonds proposed and Councillor J Jones seconded, a motion that application 3/14/2023/OP be deferred to allow further consideration of the potential impact of noise and disturbance from the nearby commercial site on the amenities of the future occupiers of the proposed dwellings.

After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, this motion was declared CARRIED.  The Committee rejected the recommendations of the Director of Neighbourhood Services as now submitted.

RESOLVED – that in respect of application 3/14/2023/OP, planning permission be deferred to allow further consideration of the potential impact of noise and disturbance from the nearby commercial site on the amenities of the future occupiers of the proposed dwellings.