Agenda and minutes

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 3 September 2019 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Chairman to advise the Committee on any requests received from members of the public to address the Committee.

The Chairman welcomed public speakers to the meeting. He also reminded

Members of the Committee that they should not vote on an application if they are not present at the meeting to hear the entire debate on the application.

None.

To consider applications for planning permission as set out below

The Committee considered the reports of the Business Manager – Strategic

Planning Committee Place, together with comments of public speakers, additional information reported by the officers and information detailed in the late representations updates document previously circulated.

It was proposed by Councillor J Hook, seconded by Councillor Hayes and

Resolved

Permission be granted subject to the following conditions:

1.     Standard 3 year time limit for commencement.

2.     Development to be carried out in accordance with approved plans.

(19 votes for and 0 against)

It was proposed by Councillor J Hook, seconded by Councillor Hayes, and

Resolved

Permission be granted subject to the following conditions:

1) Development in accordance with approved plans

2) Standard advertisement conditions:

a) Adverts to be erected with owner’s permission.

b) Adverts shall not endanger persons, impede interpretation of other signs etc.

c) Adverts shall be maintained so as to not impair amenity.

d) Structures supporting advertisements shall not endanger the public.

e) When an advert is required to be removed, the site shall be left in a site that does not endanger the public or impair visual amenity.

(19 votes for and 0 against). 

The Principal Planning Officer referred to the updates document previously circulated.

The application is in accordance with Local Plan Policy S22 but does not comply with Policy WE6. There are a number of material considerations to be considered in the determination of the application, which should be weighed against the policy position: (i) 24 Gypsy and Traveller pitches are required as part of the NA1 development, Houghton Barton and can be provided offsite; (ii) the applicant is a reputable Housing Association and currently successfully manages the Haldon site; (iii) the site is located within open countryside, within an area with a ‘disturbed’ character by reason of the number of commercial operators nearby which means that it can more easily assimilate the development; (iv) having a 5 year supply of pitches is no guarantee of delivery; (vi) the site is in a sustainable location; and (vii) quality of the application which includes an additional 600 metre hedgerow, an area of meadow grassland, a play area, and a community area.

The consultation response has been received from the Environment Agency. The Agency has confirmed that the flood risk details are acceptable.

Public speaker, objector - spoke on behalf of the Clifford Estates objecting on the grounds of: the application does not accord with the Local Plan; the Council has a 5 year supply of gypsy and traveller pitches and the pitches are not required; contrary to Local Plan policies and the NPPF, particularly Policy WE6; there are no material grounds to outweigh the conflicts; its use as an alternative site for NA1 is not required or acceptable; it is not sustainable, the nearest bus stop is 1.5km away, the primary school 3km, and shops 4km, which would deter walking and encourage car use; it is incompatible with heavy plant businesses nearby which produce noise and dust during their operation; the site is inappropriate for the use, and an alternative should be found.

Comments from the Committee included: the site is not a suitable location for the use; it is a distance from facilities; noisy heavy plant businesses operate nearby; it should be used for transit pitches; the boundary hedge would not address the noise issue; there would be continuous complaints from the residents of the site about the noise form the neighbouring businesses; the businesses should be supported and prioritised for the economy of the area; the site is known to flood; the Council has a responsibility to provide pitches; and the site and area as a whole is suitable.

With regard to the site being used for transit pitches, the Business Manager advised that this was being progressed in partnership with Devon County Council so that the sites are located in the best transit locations. 

With regard to the noise issue from neighbouring business operations, the Principal Planning Officer advised that the accommodation would be required to be built to the standard set out in the submitted noise assessment that would result in acceptable internal noise level readings.

The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 52c