Agenda item

Recommended for Approval.

Mr Colin Huntley addressed the Committee against the application.  Mr Marcus Lambert spoke for the application.

The Director of Neighbourhood Services recommended that, subject to the applicant entering into an agreement pursuant to Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, in respect of application 3/12/0597/FP, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions now detailed.

The Director drew Members’ attention to the additional representations schedule, in particular the extra condition that the development should be carried out in accordance with the details of the submitted bat survey dated June 2012 and the mitigation and compensation measures contained therein, in order to protect the habitats of bats, which were a protected species under the Wildlife and Access to the Countryside Act 1981 and in accordance with Policy ENV16 of the East Herts Local Plan Second Review April 2007.

In response to a query from Councillor A Burlton, the Director stated that work had commenced on an extant planning permission for 18 dwellings on the site.  If Members approved this application, the applicant would benefit from two planning permissions and could choose which permission was implemented.

Councillor Mrs R Cheswright expressed concerns regarding yet another development of 4 or 5 bedroom houses where young people needed smaller properties of 2 to 3 bedrooms.  She also echoed the objecting speaker’s concerns regarding the poor design quality.  Councillor Mrs R Cheswright invited Officers to comment on whether the maximum parking standards under PPG13 had been abolished by the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

The Director advised that there was quite a mix of residential development on the site, from large 4 to 5 bedroom dwellings to the affordable housing units, which were smaller 1 bedroom maisonettes and 2 to 3 bedroom houses.

Members were advised that there was no particular policy provision for any particular size or type of dwelling across the District.  The Director stressed that, although the NPPF did not have maximum standards for parking provision, the East Herts Local Plan Second Review April 2007 still contained maximum standards.  Members were advised that this application was in compliance with local plan policies in that the parking provision was only two spaces short of the maximum standard.

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 an agreement pursuant to Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, application 3/12/0597/FP be granted subject to the conditions now detailed.

RESOLVED – that, subject to the applicant entering into a legal obligation pursuant to Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, in respect of application 3/12/0597/FP, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report now submitted and the following additional condition:

25.      The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the details of the submitted bat survey dated June 2012 and the mitigation and compensation measures contained herein.

Reason: To protect the habitats of bats which are a protected species under the Wildlife and Access to the Countryside Act 1981, and in accordance with with Policy ENV16 of the East Herts Local Plan Second Review April 2007.