Agenda and minutes

Up to 15 minutes are allowed for public participation.  Participants are restricted to 3 minutes each.

There were no public speakers.

i)      Meeting of the Planning Committee held on 22 May 2024, previously circulated.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on Wednesday, 22 May 2024, be confirmed and signed as an accurate record.

Members may make any declarations of interest at this point but may also make them at any time during the course of the meeting.

Councillor Boles declared he would not be Chairing the application as he was not at the previous meeting where the application was deferred. Councillor Snee, as Vice-Chairman would take the Chair for this item.

Councillor Hague declared that as he did not attend the site visit, he would abstain from voting on the application.

Councillor Smith declared a personal interest as a former resident of RAF Scampton. He declared he was not predetermined and would consider the application with an open mind.

Councillor Boles left the meeting at this juncture and Councillor Snee took the Chair for this application.

The Case Officer updated Members that since the last Committee meeting, the Planning team had received further comments from neighbours regarding residential amenities and landscaping. He advised that these points were not reserved matters. The Case Officer delivered a presentation displaying the location plans, indicative site plan and existing photographs of the site.

The Chairman thanked the Planning Officer and advised the Committee there was one registered speaker. 

Mr Tams, the agent for the application, addressed the Committee and responded to Member concerns raised at the previous Committee meeting:

§  In terms of land ownership, it was confirmed that the red boundary line was owned by the applicant.

§  A comprehensive tree survey had been undertaken and there would be a small number of trees removed as these were low quality and a considerable amount of trees were to be retained across the western boundary of the site.

§  The site would be enhanced with new trees planted and hedgerows and a Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) of 11% would be achieved with the development.

§  The Highways surrounding the application site was privately owned and maintained by the management company and residents contributed to the maintenance of the highways.

§  A drainage strategy had been submitted with the application that demonstrated how the new structure would fit in with the existing drainage structure.

§  In terms of using existing housing stock, the applicant had refurbished 61 empty units and these houses were currently being sold, and 24 properties had completed and had been moved into.

He expressed that he had been working with planning officers over the past year and had worked to address design and policy principles and technical issues.

Members thanked Mr Tams and the applicant for agreeing to the extension. Members felt that having attended the site visit they could not find any reason for refusal and had attended separately and could not see any red kites and the trees on the site were too small to have nests for red kites. The Case Officer added that an ecological survey had been submitted and measures had been provided that stated any construction works would not take place during nesting season.

On taking the vote, it was agreed that planning permission be GRANTED subject to conditions set out in the Case Officer’s report.

Councillor Boles rejoined the meeting and took the Chair for the remainder of the meeting.

With no comments, questions or requirement for a vote, the determination of appeals was NOTED.