Agenda item

Recommended for Approval, subject to a S106 Planning Obligation of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

The Director of Neighbourhood Services recommended that, in respect of application 3/11/0370/FP, subject to the applicant entering into a deed of variation in respect of the S106 legal obligation that was entered into for the planning permission granted for 17 dwellings under LPA reference 3/09/1370/FP, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions now detailed.

Councillor Mrs R Cheswright, as the local ward Member, referred to problems with suppliers’ lorries travelling through Braughing rather than using the A10 or B1368.  She stated her concern that the 2004 housing needs survey being used by Officers was out of date.

Councillor Cheswright referred to the 2007 Braughing Community Plan that had highlighted the need for 1, 2 and 3 bedroom houses.  She also commented that the current parking standards were out of date and should be amended.  She expressed her hope that developers would listen to the needs of local people when submitting planning applications.

Councillor Cheswright highlighted that larger executive houses were out of reach for most young people and were not suitable for older people who wanted to downsize.  She stated that local people were very aware of the need for 1, 2 and 3 bed houses in Braughing.  She expressed concerns that developers often sought to maximise profit rather than providing the housing that was really needed.

Councillor S Bull expressed concerns that 3 storey houses of this scale were way out of context in a village like Braughing.  He also stated that insufficient car parking was proposed, considering this application was for 5 bedroom houses.

The Chairman stressed that the extra 3^rd storey was within the roof space so the dwellings would not be any higher than the existing houses.  He also stated that Hertfordshire County Council Highways had not objected to the application in relation to the proposed parking provision.

The Director stated that the key issue was the change now proposed to the scheme and whether this would have been acceptable had it originally come forward in this way. He commented that Officers felt the scale and impact of the proposed changes were modest in nature.  Members were advised to limit their considerations to judging what harm would be caused by the proposed development.

The Director stressed that Members should not give any weight to the issues around developers providing certain types of housing in relation to profit.  The policy approach was for 40% affordable housing to meet affordable housing need and the committee must consider whether it is that need, or one for smaller but open market houses, that it considers most important.

After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the Committee accepted the recommendation of the Director of Neighbourhood Services that, subject to the applicant entering into a deed of variation in respect of the S106 legal obligation that was entered into for the planning permission granted for 17 dwellings under LPA reference 3/09/1370/FP, application 3/11/0370/FP be granted subject to the conditions now detailed and the section 106 legal agreement.

RESOLVED – that subject to the applicant entering into a deed of variation in respect of the S106 legal obligation that was entered into for the planning permission granted for 17 dwellings under LPA reference 3/09/1370/FP subject to the following matters:

1.            The development of Plots 7 and 8 shall be carried out in accordance with the details to be agreed under the conditions of planning permission reference 3/09/1370/FP;

2.            An additional financial contribution of £750 towards Sustainable Transport Programs;

3.            An additional financial contribution of £4,454 towards Middle Tier Education, £4,080 towards Upper Tier Education, £212 towards Childcare,  £110 Youth and £134 towards Libraries;

4.            An additional financial contribution of £180 towards recreation facilities for children and young people.

in respect of application 3/11/0370/FP, planning permission be granted subject to the following conditions:

1.           Three year time limit (IT121)

2.           Approved plans (2E10) - POla; P02b

Directive:

1.    This planning permission is also subject to the Planning Obligation under S106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) and the conditions attached to the planning permission granted under lpa reference 3/09/1370/FP.

Summary of Reasons for Decision

The proposal has been considered with regard to the policies of the Development Plan (East of England Plan May 2008, Hertfordshire County Structure Plan, Minerals Local Plan, Waste Local Plan and the saved policies of the East Herts Local Plan Second Review April 2007), and in particular policiesOSV1, ENV1, ENV2, ENV5, ENV6, BH5, IMP1 and TR7.  The balance of the considerations having regard to those policies and the planning permission that was granted for 17 dwellings under lpa reference 3/09/1370/FP is that permission should be granted.