Agenda item

The Assistant Director Planning, Community Development Services sought determination of a planning application for 195 no. dwellings with associated access, infrastructure and landscaping on land at field 439839 464979, south of Chapel Hill, Boroughbridge.

The application had been reported to Committee due to the scale of the scheme, which was considered to raise significant planning issues.

The Development Management Team Manager presented the report and highlighted the location and site description.  The site consisted of two parts - the northern half of the site had planning permission for 256 houses and was currently being constructed and approaching completion.  This application was for the southern part of the site, using access through the first phase and connecting to the drainage infrastructure approved for the first phase.

Providing an update to their report, the officer advised Members of the following.

·       Executive Summary Recommendation:  Updated to include completion of the Section 106 agreement.

·       Section 12 Recommendation:  Confirmed correct; referred to both conditions on the Section 106 agreement.

·       Housing Land Supply:  Updated figure was 2.2 years for the former Harrogate area (differing from the published report).

·       Paragraph 3.4:  Should reference Phase Two instead of Phase One.

·       Number of Conditions:  Corrected to 33 (due to condition 26 being listed twice).

·       Final Condition: Amended to reference “play equipment” details instead of “trim trail equipment”.

·       Condition 9:  Wording added to require the construction management plan to align with the version reviewed by Highways.

·       Condition 12:  Changed to a compliance condition as off-site highway works details had been agreed.

·       Condition 18:  Trigger for purchasing Habitat unit changed from prior to commencement to preoccupation, with ecology's agreement.

·       Condition 33:  Amended as part of the verbal update to reference play equipment rather than trim trail equipment.

·       Section 106 Agreement Status:  Still in progress; may affect trigger points in the report.

·       Education Contributions: Likely to be phased by stages of occupation, not prior to occupation as currently stated.  This was to be agreed with education during the drafting of the 106.

·       Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG):

o   Approval of BEMP and metric required prior to commencement.

o   Completion of works required before 80% occupation.

o   BNG bond required in accordance with SPD; to be included in the Section 106 agreement.

The officer also confirmed the updated recommendation to take into account the above verbal update.

Becky Richmond spoke on behalf of the applicant, in support of the application.

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

In discussion, the following points were made:

·       Councillor Windass requested that the improperly filled trenches on Chapel Hill from previous work in the area were addressed by Bellway Homes.

·       Councillor Haslam expressed satisfaction with the water attenuation scheme, the separation of foul and surface water, the attention to ecological detail, and the inclusion of an edible garden.

·       Councillor Mann noted the well-designed spaces between dwellings, landscaping, and the inclusion of a trim trail as positive elements.

·       Councillor Walker emphasised the need to ensure that Section 106 funds would be made available as early as possible for schools to plan accordingly.  The officer confirmed the proposed phasing was with education and advice from education as to their need and want would be considered.

·       Councillor Broadbank clarified the access points to the site, including the use of one on the western edge of the southern portion which was for emergency services use only.

Councillor Windass proposed that planning permission be granted, and this was seconded by Councillor Haslam.

Decision

That planning permission be GRANTED subject to the recommended conditions in the report and amendments to conditions 9, 12, 18 and 33 in accordance with the verbal update and the prior completion of a S106 Agreement with terms as detailed in Table 1 in the report, and amendments to Education and BNG obligations/triggers in accordance with the verbal update.

Voting record

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