Agenda and minutes

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting held on 14 July 2015 (to be laid on the table half an hour before the meeting).

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 14 July 2015 were approved.

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 Christiaan Hesse and Stephen Mulliner.

Councillors Jim Edwards and David Round attended 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 Pat Frost advised that she was a member of Farnham Town Council, but was not on the Planning Committee and had not previously considered this application.

Councillor Chris Storey advised that he had worked closely with the Farnham Town Council ward member for Badshot Lea, who lived adjacent to the application site.

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.

There were none.

There were no matters falling within this category.

The background papers relating to the following items are as set out in the reports included in the original agenda papers.

Proposal

Outline application for the erection of 71 residential dwellings including access and associated car parking.

Recommendation

That, subject to completion of a S106 agreement to secure appropriate contributions in respect of the Thames Basin Heaths Avoidance Strategy, 40% affordable housing, infrastructure contributions towards off-site highway improvements, secondary education and environmental improvements; off-site highway works and the setting up of a Management Company for play spaces, open space and SuDS, conditions, and consideration of any outstanding consultee responses and additional representations received, permission be GRANTED.

Proposed development

Outline application for the erection of 71 residential dwellings including access and associated car parking (as amplified by emails and additional information received 29/01/2015; 02/02/2015; 18/02/2015 (highways modelling information); 22/05/2015 (flood risk assessment Revision K) and 24/06/2015 (reptile survey) and amended by email received 06/01/2015 (housing mix) and plan received 22/06/2015 (revised site layout 02C).

With reference to the report circulated with the agenda, Officers presented a summary of the proposed development including site photos, plans showing the proposed access, and an indicative layout demonstrating how the residential dwellings might be accommodated on the site. Officers outlined the determining issues, including matters of technical judgement in relation to flooding and highways, and those matters of a more subjective nature.

Officers drew attention to the Update report, which included clarification of the weight to be given to Policy C2 as a housing land supply policy following recent legal judgements; additional information regarding the heads of terms of the legal agreement in relation to the proposed Management Company, to include public parking for the recreation ground and ball-stop netting; confirmation of infrastructure contributions required for environmental improvements and secondary education; and additional representations.

The Committee was advised that the recommendation had been revised to reflect the additional heads of terms for the legal agreement; and minor amendments to Conditions 3, 16, 18 and 19 were proposed, if the Committee granted outline planning permission.

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, Badsot Lea Community Association - Objector

Cllr John Fraser – Farnham Town Council

Ray Stedman & Chris Posgate – Supporter/Applicant

Discussion

Cllr Storey, as Ward Councillor, reminded the Committee that this was the third application for a major housing development in Badshot Lea that had been considered by the Committee in the last 2 months. Whilst there were still concerns about the lack of infrastructure locally, including no village shop, doctors’ surgery, or school capacity, this particular site had been identified by the Community Association as being the ‘least worst’ location for development in the village.

He therefore felt that the development should be supported in principle, but he remained concerned about how the issues raised by the Community Association would be addressed by the applicant in the Reserved Matters application.

Cllr Storey’s views were echoed by the Committee as a whole, with Cllr Cockburn emphasising the importance of the applicant continuing to work with the Community Association in developing the detailed proposals in the Reserved Matters, so that the new developed enhanced the village of Badshot Lea.

A number Members raised concerns about the revised recommendation specifying the provision by the proposed Management Company of ball-stop netting to protect the properties on the western boundary of the application site from stray cricket balls from the adjacent recreation ground. They were concerned about the long-term maintenance of the netting, and the perception of dwellings being enclosed by netting. It was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.