Agenda item

To consider the planning application and recommendations of the Director of Planning and Regulatory Services (copy enclosed, Members’ Update to be circulated)*.

The Officer presented the report to the Committee, and drew Members attention to the Member’s Update which refers to email correspondence between the Officers and Applicant on Conditions 12 and 18.

Following the Officers presentation, Mr Kevin Boden, an objector, Parish Councillor Lindsay Squire, North Fambridge Parish Council, an objector, and Mr Sean Martin, the Applicant, addressed the Committee.

The Development Management Team Leader addressed the Committee, advising that there was an error in the report, in that there was no onsite storage of foul waste.  This would be stored at the existing pumping station, which was considered satisfactory by Anglian Water.

Members from North Fambridge Ward raised concerns on access to the site via Crouch Road as part of the Construction Management Plan. 

There followed an extensive discussion regarding the disposal of foul waste at the site and the impact this would have on existing and future residents.  Members requested that it was noted that comments from Mr Vickery from the Planning Inspectorate supported this view.  Members were not satisfied that the addition of a storage tank for foul waste at the existing pumping station would resolve the current issue, and that it would not address the potential increase in waste disposal.

The Development Management Team Leader confirmed that there had been extensive consultations with Anglian Water, who were satisfied that that there was sufficient capacity to handle foul water generated by the development within the existing infrastructure, and that they were satisfied that the addition of 33 cubic meter capacity to the existing pumping station would be sufficient to accommodate the increase in waste.  Members were advised that while Anglian Water had recently started using the proposed system for flow control, it was currently being used at around 200 existing sites already.

The Development Management Team Leader pointed out that in Appendix 1, Agenda Item 7, DET/MAL/17/05154 – Land West of Fambridge Road, North Fambridge, correspondence received within the Appendix shows both sites have been jointly considered by Anglian Water Services and the Environment Agency.

Members advised that it was difficult to consider DET/MAL/17/05154 and DET/MAL/17/05142 as separate applications when the main concerns are intrinsically linked by use of the same surface/foul water system, and when the statutory authorities consider the sites jointly in their correspondence.

Councillor Miss S White proposed a deferral until Anglian Water had provided further evidence and a written guarantee for the disposal of foul water.  This was duly seconded by Councillor J P F Archer.

Councillor Miss S White then proposed a refusal in agreement with the Officers recommendations on conditions 12 and 18, and refusal contrary to the Officers recommendations on conditions 15, 16, and 29.  This was duly seconded by Councillor J P F Archer and agreed.

RESOLVED

   (i).            that conditions 12, and 18 as imposed on outline planning application OUT/MAL/14/01018 not be discharged as per the Officers recommendation.

 (ii).            that conditions 15, 16, and 29 as imposed on outline planning application OUT/MAL/14/01018 not be discharged as per the reasons detailed above.

(iii).            that conditions 4, 5, 8, 25, 26 and 27 as imposed on outline planning application OUT/MAL/14/01018 be discharged as per the Officers recommendation.