Agenda and minutes

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting held on 18 October 2017 (to be laid on the table half an hour before the meeting).

The minutes of the meeting held on 18^th October 2017 were confirmed 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 John  ward, Stewart Stennett, Mike Band and Anna James. Councillor Andy McLeod attended as a substitute.

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.

There were no declarations of interests.

Proposal

Alteration, extension, landscaping and improvement to existing access from Sturt Road to land to the rear of Sturt Farm, and the provision of Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG).

Recommendations

Proposed development

Alteration, extension, landscaping and improvement to existing access from Sturt Road to land to the rear of Sturt Farm, and the provision of Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG)

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 advised that since the publication of the agenda, there had been six additional letters of representation to the proposal. One representation raised objection to the proposal, however, the letter raised no new comments over those set out in the Agenda Report. Three letters had been received (from two addresses) withdrawing their previous objections to the application. Two letters of representation had been received from the Campaign to Protect Rural England.  The first letter requested that the Joint Planning Committee was deferred for at least a month to allow the consideration of additional information.  They also requested that the Officer Recommendation should be reconsidered in light of any additional comments. 

Officers advised that the additional information did not change the proposal, but, instead, gave further clarifying information on what the developer considered to be the public benefits of the proposal.  An assessment of the information was set out in the “Public Benefits” section of the Agenda Report. Officers were satisfied that no additional consultation needed to take place, however, in the interests of good will, a 7 day consultation letter was sent out.  In addition to this, legal advice had been sought to ensure that they could proceed.

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:

Nigel Whitehead - Applicant/Agent

Discussion

The Committee considered the report and the new information reported verbally from Surrey Highways. They also considered what the impact of the access would be on the neighbouring properties. Officers advised that  the proposed extension and alterations to the existing access track and the change of use to provide SANG would have a limited impact on the surrounding character of the area. Therefore, the proposal would have limited prominence in the broader landscape and would not cause material harm to the Countryside and would conserve the landscape character and natural beauty of the AONB and AGLV. It was considered that the proposal would be an improvement over the consented access in terms of its impact on landscape character.

Members noted that the consented scheme would result in the delivery of a substantial level of both market and affordable housing approved at outline stage. However, the alternative access would allow for the provision of 11 additional residential units at Sturt Farm, 4 of which would be on site affordable homes over what could be delivered with the extant access. This would contribute significantly towards housing in the Borough and the proposal would allow for the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44.

To consider the following recommendation on the motion of the Chairman (if necessary):-

Recommendation

That pursuant to Procedure Rule 20, and in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present during the item, there would be disclosure to them of exempt information (as defined by Section 100I of the Act) of the description specified at the meeting in the revised Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

To consider any legal advice relating to any application in the agenda.