Agenda and minutes

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

There was no public participation.

i)       Meeting of the Planning Committee held on 4 December 2024 previously circulated.

Councillor Fleetwood requested an amendment for the minutes of the previous Committee to reflect his name against the following on page 7, ‘A Member made a request for a recorded vote, which was duly seconded.’

On being put to vote this was agreed unanimously.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on Wednesday, 4 December 2024, following the above amendment 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.

Regarding the application WL/2024/00049 Councillor Barrett declared that he knew the applicants personally and informed the committee he would act in his capacity as Ward Member, and leave the Chamber for the debate.

Note – the status of Neighbourhood Plans in the District may be found via this link

https://www.west-lindsey.gov.uk/my-services/planning-and-building/neighbourhood-planning/

Members heard from the Development Management Team Manager the Government had published its response to proposed planning reforms the previous month, alongside its revised and updated National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Planning law required that planning decisions were taken against the development plan for its area, unless material considerations indicated otherwise. In this case, that comprised the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan, any applicable made Neighbourhood Plan, and the Lincolnshire Minerals and Waste Plan.

National policy was, however, a material consideration and was to be taken into account from the date of its publication (12 December 2024). It was therefore relevant when considering that evening’s planning applications.

The NPPF stated (paragraph 232) that “existing [development plan] policies should not be considered out-of-date simply because they were adopted or made prior to the publication of this Framework.”

It also stated that where the LPA could demonstrate a five-year Housing Land Supply (HLS) and a Housing Delivery Test (HDT) over 75% for the previous three years, then current development plan policies should not have been regarded as out-of-date as a consequence of the new local housing requirement figures. This was for a period of five years from the date of the plan’s adoption (CLLP – April 2028).

In Central Lincolnshire, there was currently a 7.8-year HLS, and over 100% had been achieved in the HDT (2023 = 178%; 2022 = 182%; 2021 = 175%). The policies of the CLLP should not have been considered to be out-of-date as a result of the new housing requirement figures.

In terms of taking into consideration the revised NPPF (December 2024), some of the key changes to be aware of had included:

·         New Standard Method for Assessing Local Housing Need (para.62) – A new Standard Method had been introduced, which future development plan policies would need to take into account. The new baseline figure had been set at 0.8% of existing housing stock, then adjusted for affordability (previously it had been derived from household growth projections). Applying the new Standard Method had required 1,552 new dwellings per annum across Central Lincolnshire (previously 1,054 under the old method, an increase of 47%). However, the CLLP 2023 had currently set a target of 1,325 dwellings per annum (an increase of 17%).

·         Return of the Five-Year HLS with Buffer (para.78) – LPAs were again required to maintain a five year HLS with a 5% buffer. Central Lincolnshire currently had a 7.8-year supply (156%). From 1 July 2026, a 20% buffer would need to be applied to those LPAs whose local housing need figure was 80% or less of the new Standard Method figure. The current CLLP requirement (1,325 dwellings) was 85% of the new Standard Method figure (1,552 dwellings) at that time.

·         Local Character and Design Coding (para. 131 onwards) – Changes made in 2023 to the NPPF referencing “beauty” and “beautiful” in relation to well-designed development had been reversed. However, the framework had clarified that national policy was strongly supportive of all upward extensions, including mansard roofs.

·         Previously  ...  view the full minutes text for item 180.

The Senior Development Management Officer explained to Members that the site was allocated for residential development within policy S80 of the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan under reference WL/NHAM/034. This allocation included an indicative housing figure of 68 dwellings and noted that the site already had planning permission. Outline planning permission had been granted for 68 dwellings in 2017, followed by the approval of the associated reserved matters application in 2018. Since the original outline planning permission, additional permission for minor residential development had been granted, which had increased the total dwelling numbers on the site by 12, bringing the total to 80 dwellings. The Officer clarified the site overlapped with the red line boundary which was shown via presentation during the Committee, approved under the outline reserved matters, and standalone applications. As such, the proposal for 47 dwellings would largely take place on areas already permitted for housing development. A resolution to grant the planning application under consideration would result in a net increase of 27 dwellings on the site, as 20 dwellings would replace those granted under previous permissions. This would bring the overall total number of dwellings on the site to 107. It was noted that the applicant had commenced work on some of the dwellings.

The Chairman thanked the Officer for her presentation and stated that there were two registered speakers; the first speaker, Councillor White, as Chairman of Nettleham Parish Council, was invited to address the Committee.

Councillor White informed the Committee that the Nettleham Neighbourhood Plan was adopted on 4 November 2024, and the transfer of the allotment plan was currently with solicitors representing both parties. Members were reminded that this application was brought to the Planning Committee not only because of compliance with the Neighbourhood Plan but also due to concerns raised in the original objection submitted on 30 November 2023 under application reference 147514. These concerns included the increase in dwelling numbers from 68 to 107, whether all dwellings were on the original allocation, the mix and design of properties, and the increased flood risk.

Councillor White advised Members that while some of these issues were addressed by the 2024 Neighbourhood Plan, the Parish Council had no power to determine the number of properties, and it was noted that the examiner did not support any prescribed density. Concerns were raised regarding the pressures on local infrastructure, including the medical centre, traffic, and secondary school places, exacerbated by developments granted on appeal exceeding the allocations in the 2017 and 2023 Central Lincolnshire Local Plans.

She noted that the Committee were informed that amendments and variations since the initial application had resulted in changes, such as the absence of the originally proposed footpath and cycle path. Policy D4 of the 2024 Neighbourhood Plan, which set out design principles including grass verges and street trees, was highlighted, as was Policy D7, which specified a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom dwellings. It was noted that the application included 38 properties with 21 four-bedroom, 11 three-bedroom, and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 181.

There are no determination of appeals to note.

There were no appeals for determination.