Issue - meetings

            That planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report of the Chief Officer (Planning and Environment) and subject to the applicant entering into a Section 106 agreement, providing a unilateral undertaking or the making of an advanced payment which provides for the following:-

·         Ensure the payment of a contribution of £733 per dwelling (£16859) in lieu of on-site play and recreation facilities, to upgrade the existing children’s play area at Oakenholt. 

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Planning and Environment) in respect of this application.  The usual consultations had been undertaken and the responses received detailed in the report.

The officer detailed the background to the report and explained that the application had been deferred from the previous meeting to allow the application to be publicised further.  This period had now elapsed and no further representations had been received.  The site had been granted approval under application 050300 and this application was to amend house types on this part of the site. 

Mr. J. Yorke spoke against the application and in referring to the Design and Access statement which he said referred to nine houses.  He sought clarification on whether the contribution for play provision was for the playground at Oakenholt or Albert Avenue as both had been mentioned in the report.  The Design Brief required affordable housing for young people to get on to the housing ladder and in line with Technical Advice Note (TAN) 2, he suggested that this should be pepperpotted through the site and not just be in one location within the site.  Mr. Yorke said that this application did not adhere to the condition required by 050300 as it was for social housing in one area of the site and suggested that these were not affordable homes. He expressed significant concern about the parking on Coed Onn Road and said that the Environment Impact Assessment was 13 years old.  Concern had been expressed by the Ecology Officer because of the requirement to remove 13 feet of top soil alongside a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).  He referred to an email that had been sent by the Planning Strategy Manager to Local Members, Councillors Vicky Perfect and Paul Cunningham, which implied that approval of this application implemented the planning condition imposed on phase 3 that the link road from Coed Onn Road to the A548 would be provided; he queried why this was not evident in this proposal.  Mr. Yorke felt that this application was significantly different to those submitted in 1999, 2004, 2008 and other public exhibitions. 

            Councillor Ian Dunbar proposed the recommendation for approval which was duly seconded.  He said that the area had planning permission for 23 dwellings and that this application was for the same number of dwellings but of different house types and the development would also link the proposal for the distributor road.  Councillor Christine Jones welcomed the inclusion of a special needs bungalow as part of the proposal. 

            The Adjoining Ward Member, Councillor Rita Johnson spoke against the application.  She said that the application was part of the Croes Atti design brief which included affordable properties to be pepperpotted throughout the whole site.  This application from a Housing Association was trying to change the site to 23 affordable homes was not part of the original application and suggested that this had not been adhered to.  The area was classed as phase 3 which required that the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 173