Agenda item

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

The Assistant Director Planning – Community Development Services sought determination of an outline application (all matters reserved except for access to, but not within the site) for the demolition of No. 37 Moat Way and the erection of up to 80 dwellings including self/custom build dwellings, at land off Evergreen Way, Brayton, Selby. The application had been brought to Committee as it raised significant planning issues such that it was in the public interest for the application to be considered by committee.

An update note was published and circulated prior to the meeting.

Linda Drake presented the report highlighting the update note; site location, access and outline; context of the site; proposal; and Officer recommendation. It was reported that ‘circa 80 dwellings’ is used in the report, but that this should read ‘up to 80 dwellings’.

Members asked questions to the Officer which related to the following.

·        Whether the applicant could do better than the minimum of 10% of total predicted energy requirements from renewable, low carbon or decentralised energy sources. Officers highlighted condition 28 of the report and reminded Members that the most that they could demand was 10% due to policy. Officers highlighted that EV charging points could be attached at the reserved matters stage.

·        It was clarified that the site was originally put forward as a preferred site in the former draft Selby Local Plan but was removed due to highway concerns over the access from Evergreen Way.

·        Members clarified a number of points including: that the proposal was contrary to local plan policy; the lack of housing supply within the local plan and the plan’s position due to this; and the history of the site in relation to the former Selby Local Plan given the previous highway issues. Members wanted clarification that highways did not object to this application and Officers confirmed the summary put forward by Members and confirmed following discussions between highways and the applicant, highways had not raised an objection to the proposal.

Paul McHugh spoke as an objector to the application.

Councillor Mark Crane spoke as the North Yorkshire Council Division Member for the application.

Jonathan Dunbavin spoke as the applicant.

Members raised the following key points during the debate.

·        That PV panels for every property should be investigated.

·        That there was a desperate need for housing.

·        That the site was not included in the former draft Selby Local Plan due to access concerns, but that these had now been addressed.

Councillor Packham proposed and Councillor Warneken seconded that the application be approved subject to the conditions set out in the report and the completion of a Section 106 Agreement.

The decision:

That Members APPROVE the application, subject to the conditions set out in the report and the completion of a Section 106 Agreement.

Voting record:

A vote was taken, and the motion was carried unanimously.