Agenda item

Recommended for Approval.

Bob Jackson addressed the Committee against the application.

The Director of Neighbourhood Services recommended that Members confirm what their decision would have been had they been able to determine application 3/12/1417/RP.

Councillor S Bull, as the local ward Member, stated that, since the non determination of this application in February 2013, a revised planning application had been submitted following dialogue between the developer and Buntingford Town Council.

Councillor Bull commented that, whilst the new application had made no changes in terms of landscaping, there had been an attempt to address issues of concern regarding the height and massing of buildings adjacent to the existing properties.

The Director advised that a revised application had been submitted and whilst there were some minor changes to the mix of proposed dwellings, the application had not changed significantly since the meeting in February 2013.  Members were reminded of a number of other relevant policies that reflected the previous concerns of the Committee in respect of the original application.

Councillor S Bull proposed and Councillor G Jones seconded, a motion that Members confirm that, if they had been able to determine application 3/12/1417/RP, they would have refused planning permission on the grounds that the proposed development would result in a cramped layout and design that would be contrary to policy ENV1 and ENV3 of the East Herts Local Plan Second Review April 2007.  The application was also contrary to the aims and objectives of policies HSG3 and HSG4 of the East Herts Local Plan Second Review April 2007; the Council’s SPD on Affordable Housing and Lifetime Homes 2008 and the policies of the National Planning Policy Framework.

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

RESOLVED – that, had the Committee been able to determine application 3/12/1417/RP on 27 February 2013, it would have refused planning permission for the following reasons:

1.    The proposed development, by reason of the size and scale of the proposed dwellings and the lack of public amenity space would result in a cramped layout and design, harmful to the character and appearance of the surrounding area and contrary to policy ENV1 of the East Herts Local Plan Second Review April 2007.

2.    The proposed affordable housing is not distributed across the site or integrated satisfactorily into the development.  As a result, the proposal would fail to achieve a mixed, sustainable and inclusive community contrary to the aims and objectives of policies HSG3 and HSG4 of the East Herts Local Plan Second Review April 2007; the Council’s SPD on Affordable Housing and Lifetime Homes 2008 and the policies of the National Planning Policy Framework.

3.              The layout of the proposed development provides insufficient natural surveillance of the proposed parking court to the south of the site which would be detrimental to the provision of a safe and sustainable community for future residents, contrary to policies ENV1 and ENV3 of East Herts Local Plan Second Review April 2007 and the National Planning Policy Framework.

Summary of Reasons for Decision

In accordance with the Town and Country Planning Development (Management Procedure)(England) (Amendment No.2) Order 2012, East Herts Council has Considered, in a positive and proactive manner whether the planning objections to this proposal could be satisfactorily resolved within the statutory period for determining the application.  However, for the reasons set out in this decision notice, the proposal is not considered to achieve an acceptable and sustainable development in accordance with the Development Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework.