Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber Council Offices Brympton Way Yeovil

Contact: Jo Boucher, Democratic Services Officer 01935 462011  Email: jo.boucher@southsomerset.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Graham Oakes and Peter Gubbins.

 

In the absence of Councillor Peter Gubbins the Chairman Councillor Angie Singleton proposed and seconded that Councillor Mike Best be elected as Vice-Chairman for the duration of the meeting.  This was agreed unanimously by members.

2.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

Councillors Clare Aparicio Paul, Mike Best and Neil Bloomfield, all declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4 – Land South West of Canal Way, Ilminster as they are Somerset County Councillors and the site is owned by SCC.

 

Councillor Angie Singleton wished to declare that her portfolio is Spatial Planning Policy but as this is a quasi-judicial procedure holds no personal interest in Item 4 – Land South West of Canal Way, Ilminster.

3.

Public Question Time

Minutes:

There were no questions from members of the public.

4.

Planning Application: 16/05500/OUT - Land South West of Canal Way, Ilminster. pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Minutes:

Application Proposal: Land South West of Canal Way, Ilminster

 

The Area Lead West presented the application as detailed in the agenda and with the aid of a power point presentation showed the site and proposed plans.  He also updated members on the following:

 

·         Over 100 letters of objections had been received reiterating the issues and concerns previously raised regarding the impact the proposal would have on the highways, visual impact and overall infrastructure, landscape, drainage impact on local amenities and overall number of proposed housing.

·         One further letter of objection received from Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) objecting to scale, balance of jobs to housing and future housing requirement referring to the local plan review currently being carried out.

·         Additional amended plans had been received from the applicant addressing the key issues in response to issues previously raised.

·         Following the Area West Committee and the concern regarding the submitted transport assessment the SSDC Highway Consultant has now viewed this assessment and considers it to be acceptable and have no significant adverse impact on the highway network.  He also considered the single point access be acceptable along with the access for emergency vehicles.

 

He noted that there was now no development proposed within the parish of Donyatt and explained the primary site access onto Canal Way, the proposed emergency access and the proposed drainage layout plans of the site. 

 

He explained as this application was for outline planning permission the plans shown were indicative.  He noted a number of issues identified in his report from consultees however these would be resolved at future reserved matters stage should the application be approved.

 

The Area Lead West referred to the key considerations and noted the application is located within the identified direction of growth.  He said that the proposed number of dwellings would exceed the current Local Plan figure for the number of housing in Ilminster by approximately 50%.  He confirmed there were no objections from statutory consultees including the highways authority following amendments made by the applicant and therefore they now consider the scheme acceptable. 

 

He also noted that the Council is not currently able to demonstrate a 5 year land supply of housing and that Ilminster is classified as one of the districts larger settlements that sits in the 2nd hierarchy behind Yeovil.

 

He noted the proposed site is situated in flood zone 1 and that the Environment agency assessed the site and were satisfied it would not be at risk from sea or river flooding.   He did however appreciate the issues of surface flooding on the northern part of the site and confirmed this would be where the relevant drainage and attenuation ponds would be located and that no housing would be built in this particular location. 

 

The Policy Planner also explained to members the current assessment and figures regarding the balance of jobs to housing and believed that Ilminster has a high level of self-containment with employment rates higher than the national average.  

 

The Area Lead West  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

Date of Next Meeting pdf icon PDF 17 KB

Minutes:

The next scheduled meeting of the Regulation Committee is on Tuesday 19th December 2017 at 10.00am.  However this meeting will only take place if there is business to conduct.