Issue - meetings

Proposal

Outline planning application for 58 new dwellings, including 23 affordable dwellings, public open space and landscaping with vehicular access via The Green, Horsham Lane; following the demolition of No's 44 & 45 Larkfield. Access only to be determined at outline (as amended by Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) received 18/04/2017 and plans and documents received 26/06/2017).

Recommendations

Proposal

Outline planning application for 58 new dwellings, including 23 affordable dwellings, public open space and landscaping with vehicular access via The Green, Horsham Lane; following the demolition of No's 44 & 45 Larkfield. Access only to be determined at outline (as amended by Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) received 18/04/2017 and plans and documents received 26/06/2017).

With reference to the report circulated with the agenda, Officers presented a summary of the planning context for making a decision on the application, and the proposed development including indicative site plans and layout. Officers outlined the determining issues and those matters of a more subjective nature.

Officers reported that an Independent Highways Safety Audit had been undertaken by the applicant. This had not identified any problems with the proposed access arrangement, but two safety issues had been identified at the existing junction with Cranleigh Road and The Green. In view of this, officers proposed an amendment to Condition 3 to refer to updated off-site speed limit measures.

Two further representations relating to road safety had been received; these had been reviewed by the Highway authority and no objection had been raised.

An additional condition was also proposed following advice from the Council’s Environmental Health Service. This would require any reserved matters application to include a strategy for the provision of electric vehicle charging points within the development.

Public speaking

In accordance with the Council’s arrangements for public participation at meetings, the following made representations in respect of the application, which were duly considered:

Mr Briley – Objector

Cllr Turner – Parish Council

Mr Rodway – Applicant/Agent

Cllr Val Henry spoke in her capacity as Ward Councillor for Ewhurst.

Discussion

The Committee discussed the application and the merits of providing 23 affordable homes for the area. However it was noted that a development of this scale would deliver a large proportion of Ewhurst’s housing requirement very early on in the Local Plan period, and the supporting infrastructure was not yet in place. Members also noted that there were other developments in the area that had been approved but had not yet been built and these would also impact on the local infrastructure.

It was noted while the majority of the site was outside the settlement boundary, the proposed development would constitute a logical extension of the existing settlement and therefore would not be isolated. Some members were concerned, however, that the indicative site layout was too cramped and out of keeping with rural nature of Ewhurst.

Members also commented that the site had not been included within the Land Availability Assessment and was not a site identified in the developing Ewhurst Neighbourhood Plan. The Committee acknowledged, however, that due to the fact that the Neighbourhood Plan was still in its early stages, no weight could be given to it at this time.

Richard Cooper, Surrey Highways Strategic Transport Consultant, responded to members' questions regarding highway safety. He explained that the transport assessment included personal injury accident data. The latest data  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40