Agenda and minutes

Apologies noted (see above).

The minutes of the meetings held on 20 November and the 11 December 2024 were confirmed and signed as an accurate record.

All Members are invited to declare at this point any interests, including the nature of those interests, or lobbying in respect of any items appearing on this agenda.

Councillor Bob Packham highlighted that the application had been before the Committee in the past; all the Members confirmed that they had heard the application previously.

Councillor Bob Packham also stated that it had been suggested that as he lived in Sherburn in Elmet that this may present an issue, however he assured Members that the proposed development and any associated traffic would have a minimal effect on his property, consequently he had no personal interest in the application.

The Chair confirmed that an officer update note had been circulated and added to the North Yorkshire Council website.

Planning Applications

The Committee considered a report of the Assistant Director Planning, Community Development Services relating to an application for planning permission.  During the meeting, Officers referred to additional information and representations which had been received.

In considering the report of the Assistant Director Planning, Community Development Services regard had been paid to the policies of the relevant development plan, the National Planning Policy Framework and all other material planning considerations. 

Report of the Assistant Director – Planning – Community Development Services.

Considered:-

The Assistant Director Planning, Community Development Services sought determination of a full planning application for the development of 66 dwellings with associated landscaping and highways and demolition and off site highways works at land at Garden Lane, Sherburn in Elmet. The proposal was that all the dwellings would be provided as affordable units either as affordable rent, shared ownership or rent to buy for those with local connections.

A site visit had been attended by Members on the 11 March 2024, with the application going to Committee on the 13 March 2024.  The application had been deferred at that time to allow officers to consider the changed position on the payment of contributions by the applicants relating to education and healthcare, and for further discussions to take place with North Yorkshire Highways to seek clarity.

The Head of Development Management explained that the application had been considered by Members during the Planning Committee on the 20 November 2024 when Members resolved to refuse the application on a number of grounds.  The decision notice had not been issued prior to the 12 December 2024 when the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was published, therefore as the revised NPPF was a material consideration, the application had been brought back to Committee for re-consideration. 

Councillor Packham expressed his disappointment that the decision notice had not been issued promptly following the committee decision in November but accepted that the reason that the application had come back to Committee was valid and that Members needed to look at the application again in the context of the revised NPPF.  The Member stated that it should not become a practice of the authority to delay issuing planning decisions in the hope that there may be a change in policy.  The Head of Development Management assured Members that the point had been understood and noted.

The Principal Planning Officer advised Members that there had been material changes to the policy context following the publication of the revised NPPF in December 2024, alongside the change in the Council’s position in terms of a lack of a five-year housing land supply, and the change in the position of the emerging Local Plan progression; and that the application should now be considered in accordance with Paragraph 11D of the NPPF.  Paragraph 11D of the policy set out the presumption in favour of sustainable development, and advised that where the development plan was out of date then permission should be granted unless there were any adverse effects of doing so which significantly and demonstrably outweighed the benefits when assessed against the policies in the Framework taken as a whole, having particular regard to key policies for directing development to sustainable locations, making effect use of land, securing well designed places and providing affordable homes, either individually or in combination. 

Members noted that there was an officer update note on the application, and it was highlighted that since publication of the agenda pack three additional comments had been received by the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 54.

Any other items which the Chair agrees should be considered as a matter of urgency because of special circumstances.

There were no other items.

Wednesday, 12 March 2025 at 2.00pm.

Wednesday 12 March 2025 at 2.00pm.