Agenda item

The item sought Member approval for the level of affordable housing to be delivered from Phase 4a of the PRB site under hybrid planning permission ref: 12/0546 (as amended), prior to the submission of the relevant reserved matters application(s).

Members were advised of the following updates on the item:

“UPDATE

The Bovis Homes reserved matter application referenced at para.6 of the report is now valid (application reference 18/1027).  

A previous affordable submission under condition 9 (as referenced at para 7 of the committee report) proposed 13.5% AH, with informal discussions seeking to increase this as stated in that para.  However as also noted in para 7 that submission was withdrawn.

Proposed informative  

It is also proposed that an informative be added to any formal approval of the submitted details.  The informative should advise the applicant that while the resolution references the provision of up to 30 residential being delivered from the 0.67ha parcel shown as 4a, this agreement does not provide any assurance that the Local Planning Authority is satisfied that this quantum of development can be accommodated in a satisfactory manner on the parcel. 

It is considered that a precautionary approach be taken in this matter because the approved (indicative) density plan for the site (contained in the design and access statement approved in 12/0546), shows a density range of between 25 and 45 dwellings per hectare (dph)  in this general location.  However, to achieve 30 units on the 0.67ha site the density would be approximately 45 dph overall.   It is also noted that a design code has not yet been supplied for this parcel and so officers are unable to establish how this level of development may be accommodated on the site and whether such a level could be achieved in a satisfactory manner.  

It is therefore suggested the draft informative below be taken forward on the decision letter:

The applicant is advised that the resolution set out above does not set the quantum of development to be delivered from parcel 4a as identified in this submission.  The actual quantum of development that can be satisfactorily accommodated on the site can only be established through the submission of an acceptable reserved matters application and Design Code.   Accordingly, the applicant is asked to note the approved density plan for 12/0546 (as amended) which shows a density range of between 25 and 45 dph in this general location.  Having regard to this background context this decision letter should not be construed as the Local Planning Authority giving its agreement to an overall density of 45 dph on land parcel 4a.”

The officer’s recommendation was proposed by Councillor Edward Hawkins and seconded by Councillor Jonathan Lytle, put to the vote and carried.  

RESOLVED that

i)             the land parcel 4a deliver nil (0%) affordable housing, but the decision letter be caveated to make clear this agreement relates solely to parcel 4a as identified on the attached plan, is limited to the delivery of up to 30 units from that parcel; and

ii)            any future affordable housing submissions proposing less than 35% from any parcel on the site must be supported by a detailed and robust viability statement and be subject to approval by Planning Applications Committee.

Note 1

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

Voting in favour of the officer’s recommendation:

Councillors Mrs Vivienne Chapman, Edward Hawkins, Paul Ilnicki, Jonathan Lytle, Adrian Page, Robin Perry, Ian Sams, Pat Tedder and Valerie White.

Voting against the officer’s recommendation:

Councillor Victoria Wheeler.