Agenda and minutes

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting held on 13 August 2018 (to be laid on the table half an hour before the meeting).

The minutes of the meeting that took place on 13 August 2018 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.

There were apologies for absence from Councillors David Else, Brian Adams, Mike Band, Michael Goodridge, Val Henry, Denis Leigh, Stephen Milliner and Chris Storey.

Councillor Maurice Byham missed part of the first application on the agenda – Garden Style Nursery so did not take part in the vote.

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 interest.

The Chairman to respond to any questions received from members of the public of which notice has been given in accordance with Procedure Rule 10.

The deadline for receipt of questions would be 12 September 2018.

There were none.

The Chairman to respond to any questions received from Members in accordance with Procedure Rule 11.

The deadline for receipt of questions would be 12 September 2018.

There were none.

Planning Performance and the Government target on quality on planning decision making will now be a standard item on the Joint Planning Committee agenda. This was an agreed recommendation at Executive on 28 November 2017 and is part of the Development Management Service Improvement Plan.

The latest available statistics are attached.

Performance was noted.

Proposal

Erection of 72 dwellings, including 26 affordable following demolition of existing buildings with associated access, car and secure cycle parking, landscaping and servicing (as amended by plans recieved 19/03/2018, 27/06/2018 and 01/08/2018, 08/08/2018, 31/08/2018, 03/09/2018, 04/09/2018)

Recommendations

Proposed development

Erection of 72 dwellings, including 26 affordable following demolition of existing buildings with associated access, car and secure cycle parking, landscaping and servicing (as amended by plans recieved 19/03/2018, 27/06/2018 and 01/08/2018, 08/08/2018, 31/08/2018, 03/09/2018, 04/09/2018)

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

The Committee was advised that permission was sought for the erection of 72 dwellings, including 26 affordable dwellings, following demolition of existing buildings with associated access, car and secure cycle parking, landscaping and servicing. Some works associated with this application had commenced on site, including the demolition of the former nursery buildings and the construction of some dwellings. As such, this application was partially retrospective.

Erection of 65 new dwellings, including 26 affordable, following demolition of existing buildings with associated access, car and secure cycle parking, landscaping and servicing (WA/2015/2163) had been approved by the Committee on 7 July 2016.

Members noted that since the publication of the agenda, additional plans had been received and the Council’s Greenspaces Manager had requested a change to the infrastructure projects for leisure/parks and countryside. There were a number of changes/amendments proposed to the conditions which were outlined in the update sheet.

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:

Stephen Trenwith - Applicant/Agent

Debate

The Committee considered the application and was very disappointed about the breach of conditions by the applicants in relation to the trees. Works pursuant to the existing 65-unit scheme had commenced without appropriate tree protection measures in place, in breach of relevant conditions. The works included the construction of a temporary access road within root protection areas. The Council’s Tree & Landscape Officer had visited the site and witnessed direct damage to tree roots from the roadway installation at an inappropriate juxtaposition. It was noted that exposed shattered rooting was visible.

The Committee was informed that the removal of the trees had not been appropriately justified by the applicants. As such, a criminal offence may have occurred under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and this matter was the subject of an open planning enforcement investigation. This position was far from desirable, but it was not possible to reverse the harm that had been caused through the tree removal. However, there was an opportunity to secure improvements over the existing position and the new application proposed compensation planting towards the rear of the site.

Members noted the apology from the applicant during the public speaking but were still frustrated that this had not been picked up earlier so that the damage could have been avoided. It was noted that this was subject to planning enforcement action and the officers could not go into  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59.

Proposal

Outline application with all matters reserved except for access for the erection of up to 105 dwellings including 32 affordable together with associated works (as amended by Design and Access Statement received 09/11/2016, amended drainage information and FRA received 28/04/2017 and amended plans and additional information received 07/07/2017 and amended location plan received 09/11/2017 and additional Certificate B received 24/11/2017)

Recommendations

Proposal

Outline application with all matters reserved except for access for the erection of up to 105 dwellings including 32 affordable together with associated works (as amended by Design and Access Statement received 09/11/2016, amended drainage information and FRA received 28/04/2017 and amended plans and additional information received 07/07/2017 and amended location plan received 09/11/2017 and additional Certificate B received 24/11/2017)

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

The Committee was advised that the application was originally brought before the Joint Planning Committee on 26 July 2017. The Committee resolved to grant permission for the development subject to the completion of a Section 106 Agreement to secure the provision of: 30% on site affordable housing; contributions towards SANG, education infrastructure, SuDS management/maintenance, play space provision and maintenance, open space management/maintenance, contributions towards off-site play pitch improvements, off-site highways and public footpath improvements and travel plan within 6 months of the resolution, conditions and informatives, and additional informative in respect of engagement in respective of future reserved matters details.

The timeframe for the completion of the Section 106 Agreement was 26 January 2018; however, the Section 106 Agreement had not been completed by this time.

Officers outlined changes to the NPPF and Local Plan policies since the Committee last considered the application. Officers were satisfied that the content of these would not change the conclusions made within the original Committee Agenda report.

Officers advised that they expected the Section 106 Agreement would be completed within the next 3 months.  The application was therefore being brought back to the Joint Planning Committee to extend the original Committee resolution to enable the completion of the Section 106 Agreement.

There were no updates since the papers had been published but officers attached the previous Committee report for information.

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:

Cliff Watts - Applicant/Agent

Debate

The Committee considered the application, and as referred to in the previous application requested the condition in relation to electrical charging points be amended to be more robust, and asked for an additional condition in relation to the dwellings which have been completed to meet the requirement of 110 litres of water per person per day. 

Councillor Carole Cockburn requested that there was an additional informative in relation to the applicants working with the community before reserved matters to discuss matters of design and also car parking which is a major issue.

Cllr Jerry Hyman asked aout the completion of an Appropriate Assessment. He was informed that the Appropriate Assessment, which had been approved by Natural England, concluded that with appropriate mitigation (in this instance a financial contribution towards the SANG at Farnham Park) the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60.

Proposal

Erection of 5 buildings to provide student accommodation comprising 2 three storey and 3 four storey buildings together with internal access, car parking, lighting, landscaping and associated works following the demolition of existing buildings (as amended and amplified by plans received 08/06/2018, 20/06/2018 and 22/08/2018 and additional information submitted 04/09/2018)

Recommendations

Proposal

Erection of 5 buildings to provide student accommodation comprising 2 three storey and 3 four storey buildings together with internal access, car parking, lighting, landscaping and associated works following the demolition of existing buildings (as amended and amplified by plans received 08/06/2018, 20/06/2018 and 22/08/2018 and additional information submitted 04/09/2018)

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.

The Committee was advised that since the publication of the report it was noted that there were two errors. The provision of car parking spaces as part of the proposal should read 258 (not 252) and the dedicated preview session for local stakeholders was held on 15th March 2018 not 5th March 2018

Debate

Councillor David Beaman, as ward councillor, spoke on this item and was in support of the proposal. He advised that there was a Travel Plan proposed but this had already been implemented allowing a 20% discount for a bus pass, and  62 new bicycle parking loops would be provided allowing the secure storage of up to 124 bikes for the resident students.

All Councillors were in support of the scheme and felt it was a good thing for Waverley. There was a slight concern about the drop in car parking spaces but noted the travel plan in place and being secured by a S106 agreement.

The Chairman moved to the revised recommendation on which the vote was unanimous in favour; similarly for recommendation B.  

Decisions