Agenda item

Considered

The report of the Assistant Director Planning – Community Development Service requesting Members to determine an outline planning application for the erection of up to 480 dwellings, provision of football pitches and ancillary building, provision of cricket pitch and pavilion, with associated access roads, car parking, landscaping, open space and infrastructure including works to the adopted highway to create site accesses. All outline matters reserved except for points of access - Land comprising field at Grid Reference 428025 453431, Beckwith Head Road, Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

The application was brought before the Committee because it was an application required to be accompanied by an Environmental Impact Statement and because the site was part of a wider ‘urban extension’ to the West of Harrogate.

A Planning Officer presented the Committee report, highlighting the proposal; the site location and description; the context to the application; planning guidance; and policy and planning considerations. The report also provided a conclusion and recommendations. Updates were provided in respect of further representations received after the publication of the papers in relation to the impacts of the building and the safety of pedestrians and cyclists.

Matthew Richards – Homes England (the applicant) addressed the Committee and highlighted the following.

·        There was a need for substantially more homes across the country and this development, which accords with the local plan, assisted that.

·        The principle of the development was well acknowledged and is in line with the plan.

·        Various local amenities that would substantially enhance the area were included in the proposals.

·        The aim was to provide a “Yorkshire Village” type development and deliver significant additional homes for the West of Harrogate.

Derek Spence, representing Beckwithshaw Parish Council and Harlow and Pannal Ash Residents’ Association, addressed the Committee and highlighted the following.

·        The proposals would bring a huge change to the nature of the area • The current infrastructure cannot support the level of development and the strategic infrastructure package does not adequately support it either.

·        There would be increased congestion and risk of road accidents.

·        Negative environmental impact and the failure to better incorporate sustainable travel.

·        There had been little, if any consultation, with local residents regarding the proposals.

Members discussed the application and the following issues were outlined

·        Concern was raised regarding the lack of consultation with local residents, as indicated by the speaker. In response it was noted that a series of events had been undertaken by the Council when the development plan, in which this was detailed, had been developed.

·        The provision of 40% affordable housing within the scheme was welcomed, but it was noted that there was no conditioning in relation to how these would be integrated into the overall development. In response it was stated these issues would be determined at the reserved matters stage with further applications submitted for the Committee to determine.

·        It was asked whether allotments could be added to the proposals to enhance the “Yorkshire Village” feel. In response it was stated that it would be difficult to accommodate these within the proposals for the site but a contribution could be provided for such a provision, off-site. The Member emphasised the need for these to accessed by walking and it was stated that further consideration would be given to this matter at the reserved matters stage.

·        Despite the number of positive developments within the proposals there was some concern that there had been little consultation with the local community and it was suggested that better liaison would greatly enhance the application.

·        It was expected that local bus services would be extended to provide services to the new development and bus stops were included within the proposals.

·        A Member considered that as this was an outline application that accorded with the local plan, approval should be given and further consideration of the exact details of the proposal should be undertaken at the reserved matters stage.

·        It was re-emphasised that the developer should consider providing allotments within the boundary of the proposals.

A proposal to approve the application was seconded. The Committee’s Legal Representative informed Members that the Constitution provided that they may wish to consider a proposal to defer a decision to approve, to ensure that appropriate information, including a suite of conditions, could be made available, to enable Members to make an informed decision. Members agreed, therefore, to recall the initial proposal and replace that with a proposal to defer the application for the provision of additional information, including a suite of conditions. Details of the required information were outlined.

Resolved

That planning permission be GRANTED subject to conditions listed in the report and the completion of a S106 agreement with terms as detailed in Table 1 of the report.

The voting on this resolution was unanimous.