Issue - meetings

Proposal

Outline application with all matters reserved for the erection of up to 80 dwellings (Including affordable) and a building to provide commercial/retail use following demolition of existing buildings (revision of WA/2015/1057) (as amended by plan received 28/06/2016 and Transport Assessment received 24/03/2016 and as amplified by ecology report received 25/07/2016)

Recommendation

Recommendation A

That, subject to the completion of a Section 106 agreement to secure appropriate contributions in respect of the Thames Basin Heaths Avoidance Strategy, towards off-site highway works, early years and secondary education, recycling containers, playing pitches and play areas; provision of 40% affordable housing; off-site highways works; the setting up of a Management Company for open space, play space, landscaping and SuDS; conditions and informatives noted below, and consideration of any additional representations received, permission be GRANTED.

Recommendation B

That, in the event that a Section 106 Agreement is not completed within 6 months of the date of the resolution to grant outline permission, then permission be REFUSED

Proposal

Outline application with all matters reserved for the erection of up to 80 dwellings (Including affordable) and a building to provide commercial/retail use following demolition of existing buildings (revision of WA/2015/1057) (as amended by plan received 28/06/2016 and Transport Assessment received 24/03/2016 and as amplified by ecology report received 25/07/2016).

Officers presentation

Officers began their presentation by updating the Committee on a number of issues.

There were a few changes of principle that Members needed to be aware of since the last application for outline planning permission on a green field site was presented to the Committee.

Firstly, the Councils draft Local Plan had been published for consultation and it was considered that Members should give the policies in the draft Local Plan significant weight. The Farnham Neighbourhood Plan had been submitted to the Council and was also currently out for consultation. This should also be afforded some weight.

The starting point for the proposal was however still the 2002 Local Plan which was the most up to date adopted development plan. On the back of the site allocations of the Local Plan, the Council considered that it could demonstrate a five year housing supply.

This meant that the Council could give substantial weight to policies which seeked to restrict the supply of housing. This included policy C2 which seeked to control development of the countryside away from existing settlements. Members were asked to note that they should not give full weight to this policy as it was not entirely consistent with the NPPF.

This was because the NPPF referred to the protection of the countryside for its intrinsic character and beauty but policy C2 seeked to protect the countryside for its own sake. Members had to consider the proposal in relation to its impact on the intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside.

Members were also made aware that the site was not allocated in the draft Local Plan as it only included site allocations at sites capable of accommodating in excess of 100 units. It was however, an allocated site in the Farnham Neighbourhood Plan and that added weight to the support for the proposal.

Members were further advised that the current application was an outline application with all matters reserved. Therefore, at this meeting, Members were being asked to determine the principle of delivering up to 80 dwellings and a retail or commercial use of the site and matters with regards to site access, layout, scale and appearance were all reserved matters which were only to be considered at reserved matters stage.

Following a short presentation on the specifics of the application, officers directed Members attention to the Update Sheet and Further Update Sheet, both of which contained details about correspondence received and matters arising following the publication of the agenda.

The Update Sheet set out officers view that the although the Farnham Neighbourhood Plan required a community facility for use by the recreation ground as a sports facility such as changing rooms, it was unreasonable  ...  view the full minutes text for item 51