Agenda item

Report of the Assistant Director – Planning.

The Vice-Chair Councillor Andy Brown took the Chair for this item as the applicant was known to the Chair Councillor Nathan Hull.  He therefore stepped aside and did not take part in the debate or voting thereon.  This item was taken after item 5 on the agenda as there was much interest in the application.

Considered:

The Assistant Director Planning – Community Development Services sought determination of an application for the variation of conditions to allow the consideration of revised plans to reflect the ‘as built’ development within phase 1 (main mill, mechanics shop and pugmill) and to amend the proposals for phase 2 (warehouse, stables, barn and proposed new build units (amended scheme) at Glasshouses Mill, Glasshouses.

Mr Nigel Garfitt spoke on behalf of the Glasshouses Mill Association.

Councillor Murday, Division Member for Pateley Bridge and Nidderdale.

Councillor Joanna Wright spoke on behalf of Pateley Bridge Town Council.

Graeme Holbeck, agent for the applicant spoke in support of the application.

During consideration of the above application, the Committee discussed the following issues:

Concern that the first two instalments of S.106 financial obligations for education and village hall (phase 1) have not been met and ongoing uncertainty about when the monies would be paid, though this application was an opportunity to reset the triggers.

A lack of confidence that the S.106 contributions set out in the report would be made and who would ensure compliance. 

Guarantees were needed that the funding is in place to meet the trigger points for payment of Section 106 contributions.

No energy statement and only one electric vehicle provided for phase 1.

The shortfall in parking spaces.

No affordable housing was provided.

Despite some interest in managing the village shop, no one had taken on the operation of the business.

The development of phase one had not been completed according to the previous planning permission leaving some elements unfinished to the detriment of the owners occupying the residential dwellings.

The importance of an up-to-date financial viability assessment.

The decision:

That planning permission is DEFERRED to allow the applicant to submit an up-to-date financial viability assessment together with an energy statement.

Reason for Deferment: The last financial viability assessment was undertaken in 2022 and having a further independent up-to-date assessment, including whether the developer proposals in relation to the trigger points are genuinely realistic and the only way to build out the development.  This would enable Members to consider the possibility of a pragmatic view on the viability of the scheme given that phase 2 was the profitable part of the overall development of the mill.  Additionally, the first two instalments of monies had not been paid as part of the Section 106 legal agreement entered into with North Yorkshire Council for phase 1 of the development.

Moreover, the Committee noted that there was no energy plan for phase 2 of the mill development and that an energy statement should be submitted in order to clarify whether it would, for example, be possible to install solar panels and electric vehicle charging points.

Record Voting

Four Members voted for the motion and two Members abstained from voting. The motion was declared carried.