Agenda item

The application was for the outline planning application for the erection of up to 85 dwellings with new access and change of use of land to publicly accessible recreation space (SANG), car parking, landscaping and open space. (Details of access only to be agreed).

A site visit was carried out at the site.

Members were advised of the following updates:

‘Correction: The comments of the County Highway Authority have now been received.  No objections are raised.

Six further objections have been received via Mr Gove MP, which raise issues already considered in the officer report but raised concern about the lack of challenge to the appeal decision for SU/14/0532 (Land south of Kings Road et al).

An objection has been received from the Windlesham Heathpark Wood Group, which is appended along with further comments (in objection) from the West End Action Group.  These letters were also separately forwarded by Mr Gove MP.

Additional representations have been received from an objection making the following further comments:

·        The nursery land has not been used for over 20 years;

·        Concern about the reporting of the County Highway Comments [Officer comment: see correction above];

·        Disagree with the report’s indication that the land is in a poor condition;

·        There is a minimum of 6.28 years supply of housing;

·        Rate of build is governed by developers (marketing/demand) and that developers (as in an appended Fareham BC report) will hold back delivery to suit the market/demand.  The recent new builds in West End are struggling to be sold;

·        Wider view of housing demand (to include SHMA partners and other neighbouring Boroughs) should be taken; and

·        A request to defer this application.

The Planning Policy Manager has provided an updated position in relation to housing land supply for the Borough, and has been appended to this update.

The applicant has requested an extension to complete the required legal agreement for SANG delivery and retention to 10 March 2016, with any required further extensions agreed by the Executive Head of Regulatory.

The applicant has confirmed that they also wish to provide a unilateral undertaking to provide affordable housing and a SAMM payment in line with adopted policy/SPD.  The Council considers that these matters can be considered at the reserved matters stage (when the number/size of units is known)

CHANGE TO RECOMMENDATION:

To extend the time period to complete the legal agreement for SANG delivery and retention to 10 March 2016, with any required extensions to be agreed by the Executive Head of Regulatory.’

Members were further advised that the extension of the time period to complete the legal agreement should read 11 March 2016. In addition informative 3 would be amended to relate to condition 15 and not 14 as detailed in the report. In addition the Committee was advised of details regarding the council’s housing land supply.

The Ward Member had concerns about various issues including road safety and flooding. It was requested that should the Committee be minded to approve the application, that any reserved matters would be brought back to Committee.

Members were advised that although there had not been any comments in the report from the Council’s drainage officer, the Local Lead Flood Authority had made comments and recommended conditions 9, 10 and 11.

Some Members also had concerns regarding the safety as the proposed access would be on a bend in the road.  Officers advised that condition 15 proposed a speed reduction scheme.

The Committee sought clarification on why policy H8 of the Core Strategy had been disregarded by the inspector at appeal, which stated that reserved sites should not be developed.  Officers referred Members to page 61 of the report which stated that the inspector advised greater weight to the NPPF than local policies.

Resolved that application 15/0884 be approved subject to conditions and the satisfactory legal agreement to secure the delivery and retention in perpetuity of a Suitable Accessible Natural Greenspace (SANG) by 11 March 2016.

In the event that a satisfactory legal agreement has not been received by the 11 March 2016 to secure SANG provision/retention, the Executive Head - Regulatory be authorised to refuse the application for the reasons as set out in the report of the Executive Head – Regulatory.

Note 1

It was noted for the record that Committee Members had received correspondence from the West End Action Group.

Note 2

As the application triggered the Council’s public speaking scheme, Mr Bain and Mr Consterdine spoke in objection and Mr Woolf spoke in support.

Note 3

The recommendation to approve the application was proposed by Councillor Edward Hawkins and seconded by Councillor Colin Dougan.

Note 4

In accordance with Part 4 Section D paragraph 18 of the Constitution, the voting in relation to this application was as follows:

Voting in favour of the recommendation to approve the application:

Councillors, Richard Brooks, Nick Chambers, Vivienne Chapman, Colin Dougan, Surinder Gandhum, Edward Hawkins, David Mansfield and Robin Perry.

Voting against the recommendation to approve the application:

Councillors Dan Adams, David Allen, Katia Malcaus Cooper, Victoria Wheeler and Valerie White.