Issue - meetings

Proposed Development

Outline application for residential development of up to 30 dwellings (all matters reserved) at land to the east of Low Lane, Badshot Lea.

Recommendation

That, subject to the completion of a S106 agreement to secure the provision of 37% affordable housing, highway and transport improvements and infrastructure including education, environmental improvements and recycling and for the setting up of a Management Companyto manage open spaces and the SuDS scheme, and subject to consideration of the views of the Lead Local Flood Authority, and subject to conditions and informatives on pages 62 to 70 of the report, permission be GRANTED

Proposed Development

Outline application for residential development of up to 30 dwellings (all matters reserved) as amended and amplified by Flood Risk Assessment dated September 2014, Flood Risk Addendum dated January 2015, Second Flood Risk Addendum dated May 2015, SuDS Strategy dated May 2015 and ecology letter dated 29/04/2015.

With reference to the report circulated with the agenda, Officers presented a summary of the planning history of the site, and the plans and proposal. Officers showed pictures of the site and the applicant’s illustrative layout of the proposed development demonstrating how 30 dwellings might be accommodated. Officers outlined the determining issues, including matters of technical judgement, and those matters of judgement. In particular, Officers explained how the Sequential Test had been applied in assessing the acceptability of the site for development in the context of it being located within Flood Zone 2, including Counsel’s advice that consideration of alternative sites could be limited to those in the Farnham area, and to sites of comparable yield generation rather than sites of greater or lesser site generation.

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

Julie Flude and Cliff Watts – Objectors

Cllr John Fraser – Farnham Town Council

Steven Kosky – Agent

Cllr Nabil Nasir also addressed the Committee, in his capacity as Ward Councillor.

The Chairman invited Cllr Chris Storey, as Ward Councillor, to open the Committee’s discussion on the application. Cllr Storey raised a number of concerns: the Badshot Lea Neighbourhood Plan team had identified a number of potential development sites in the village, but the application was not one of them; the site was prone to flooding, and it had been clear at the site visit earlier in the week that the boundary ditches had been full of water; the additional traffic generated by the development could not be accommodated on the village roads and would impact on the safety and amenity of local residents; whilst the site was located close to the village centre, there were no facilities such as a GP surgery or village shop to serve the residents - the nearest shop was Sainsbury’s; consideration of the potential for odour from the sewage pumping station was needed before a reserved matters application. Cllr Storey felt that the cumulative effect of these concerns meant that he would not be supporting the recommendation to grant planning permission.

Cllr Mulliner challenged Planning Officers with regard to their approach to the Sequential Test, particularly the discount of sites in Flood Zone 1 that were larger or smaller than the application site; the weight to be put on the potential deliverability of alternative sites and whether they should be discounted on this basis; and whether the application site was required to help Waverley meet its 5-year housing land supply.

Whilst the Head of Planning and Development Control Manager elaborated on the justification set out in the agenda report for the approach taken  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18