Issue - meetings

To consider the planning application and recommendations of the Director of Strategy, Performance and Governance, (copy enclosed, Members’ Update to be circulated)*.

Members were reminded that this application had been deferred at the last extraordinary meeting of the Council.

It was noted from the Members’ Update that a further consultation response from the Environment Agency had been received.

Following the Officers’ presentation Ms Williams, the Agent, addressed the Committee.

Having sought clarification on a point regarding design codes, Councillor A S Fluker, Leader of the Council, proposed that the application be approved in accordance with the Officers’ recommendation.  This proposal was duly seconded.

A number of Members raised concern regarding some of proposed properties not complying with the recommended minimum amenity space.  Officers advised that whilst this was true it had been assessed in line with the generous amount of public open space which would, by some means, compensate and overall Officers were happy that the proposal would be satisfactory.  It was noted that the proposed parking had been assessed as complying with the Council’s car parking standards. 

Councillor B E Harker referred to the design of some of the proposed flatted blocks, felt that there had been little regard to the garden suburb principles and was concerned regarding the amenity spaces being below the minimum standard.  He proposed that the application be refused, contrary to Officers’ recommendation, due to the under-provision of amenity space for some of the dwellings proposed.  The Chairman advised him that there was already a proposition, of approval, and therefore if he disagreed he would need to vote against it.

A lengthy discussion ensued, during which Officers provided guidance and responded to a number of points and concerns raised by Members regarding the proposed application, including the following:

·             It was clarified that garden suburb principles set out in the South Maldon Garden Suburb Strategic Masterplan Framework Supplementary Planning Document are landscape led in terms of the space around the built form and the approved infrastructure made for provision of that including the Design Codes greenways which are approved at up to 25m wide and accessible for all residential parcels facing onto green spaces.  Those buildings with lower levels of amenity space had been located within significant landscaped public open spaces areas to compensate.

·             The Maldon District Design Guide applied in terms of amenity space standards and are taken  ...  view the full minutes text for item 975

To consider the planning application and recommendations of the Director of Strategy, Performance and Governance, (copy enclosed, Members’ Update to be circulated)*.

It was noted from the Members’ Update that an update to paragraph 7.9 of the report had been provided and consultation responses had been received from Environmental Health and the Countryside and Coast Officer.

Following the Officers’ presentation, the Agent, Ms Williams addressed the Committee.

In response to a question regarding on whether the Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) should be a material consideration, the Lead Specialist Place referred to the Local Development Plan and how both the policy and text relating to it had to be read together therefore making the SHMA material consideration and of material weight.

Councillor S J Savage proposed that the application be refused in accordance with Officers’ recommendation.  This was duly seconded and upon a vote being taken was agreed.

RESOLVED that the application be REFUSED for the following reasons:

1.           The proportion of smaller residential units within the open market housing mix proposed is not consistent with the Council’s Strategic Housing Market Assessment and inadequate justification for such variation has been provided.  The proposal therefore fails to deliver the housing required to serve the Maldon District and fails to accord with policy H2 of the Maldon District Approved Local Development Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework.

2.           In the absence of a completed legal agreement pursuant to Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, the necessary affordable housing and financial contributions towards medical services, education and RAMS have not been secured. As a result, the development would not meet the identified need in the locality to address the Council's strategic objectives on affordable housing and supporting a mixed and balanced community, would have an adverse impact on the European designated nature conservation sites and would not make adequate provision for medical services and education for the future occupiers of the site, contrary to Policies S1, S2¸ S3, S4, H1, D1, D2, N1, N2 and I1 of the Maldon District Local Development Plan and Government advice contained within the National Planning Policy Framework.