Agenda and minutes

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting held on 17 February 2016 (to be laid on the table half an hour before the meeting).

The Minutes of the last meeting of the Joint Planning Committee held on 17 February 2016 were confirmed as a correct record and signed.

To receive apologies for absence.

Where a Member of the Committee is unable to attend a meeting, a substitute Member from the same Area Planning Committee may attend, speak and vote in their place for that meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Brian Ellis, Pat Frost, Michael Goodridge and Liz Wheatley.

Councillors Val Henry and Nick Williams were present as substitutes.

To receive from Members declarations of interests in relation to any items included on the Agenda for this meeting in accordance with the Waverley Code of Local Government Conduct.

Councillor Val Henry declared a non—pecuniary interest in planning item A1, reference WA/2015/1903, as she is the Chairman of the Ewhurst Parish Council Planning Committee.

Proposal

Outline application for proposed development of up to 31 dwellings with access to be determined (alternative proposal Option 2).

Recommendation

That, subject to completion of a S106 legal agreement to secure 29.5% affordable housing, infrastructure contributions towards off-site early years and primary education, environmental improvements, recreational facilities, on-site public footpath works and the setting up of a Management Company for open space and SuDS, and subject to conditions, permission be GRANTED.

Proposed development

Outline application for proposed development of up to 31 dwellings with access to be determined at Land at Backward Point, Cranleigh Road, Ewhurst GU6 7RJ

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 site plans and the layout. Officers outlined the determining issues and those matters of a more subjective nature.

Officers drew attention to the Update Sheet and advised Members that there had been a consultee response from the Surrey Hills Area Of Natural Beauty Officer. An additional condition, 21, had also been recommended by Officers in relation to the electricity pole at the site entrance to Cranleigh Road.

Public Speaking

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

John Robbins – Objector

Councillor Mike Turner – Ewhurst Parish Council

Colin Viret.- Applicant

Discussion

The Committee discussed the application which sought outline permission for the development proposal with all matters reserved except access. Members were reminded that all other matters were to be reserved for future consideration and that this type of planning application sought a determination as to the acceptability of the principle of the proposed development.

Members expressed regret that the outline would result in the loss of a greenfield site whilst acknowledging the need for housing to be built. However, concerns were raised about the density of housing outlined and its scale which was considered to not be in keeping with the village of Ewhurst. It was suggested that the density was double that of neighbouring properties and that that would result in an acceptable level of urbanisation.

Viability and access to the site was considered very poor and Members were unconvinced that HGVs would be able to safely navigate the access road, especially when taking pedestrians into consideration.

Officers responded that the Surrey County Highways Authority had looked at the access plans and were happy that it would be unlikely that two HGVs would try to enter the site at the same time.

Members were reminded that Paragraph 14 of the National Planning Policy Framework required a presumption in favour of sustainable development and that Officers had been satisfied that the proposed site was a suitable location in terms of services and facilities. There had been no significant harm identified in terms of bio-diversity. The development would be screened from the highway and that there was no wider landscape harm.

In summing up, Officers explained that they believed there was no significant or demonstrable harm of a scale high enough to outweigh the provision of housing.

With no further comments from Members, the Chairman moved the revised recommendation contained within the Update Sheet.

The recommendation to grant outline planning permission was rejected with 2 Members voting in support and 16 voting against. There were no abstentions.

Decision

RESOLVED to REFUSE permission for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44.