Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Council Offices, Brympton Way, Yeovil. View directions

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

Note: Please note - item 8 - Bay Tree Farm 19/00273/OUT has been withdrawn from this agenda and will now be considered at a future meeting 

Items
No. Item

112.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 138 KB

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 19th November 2019.

Minutes:

The minutes of the Regulation Committee meeting held on 19th November 2019, copies of which had been circulated, were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

 

113.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Neil Bloomfield.  It was noted that Councillors Malcolm Cavill, Crispin Raikes and Linda Vijeh could not attend and so Councillors Robin Bastable, Louise Clarke and Mike Stanton were attending as their substitutes.

114.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

There were no declaration of interest made by Members of the Committee.

115.

Public Question Time

Minutes:

There were no questions from members of the public present.

116.

Schedule of Planning Applications pdf icon PDF 88 KB

Minutes:

The schedule of planning applications was NOTED.

117.

Planning Application 18/04057/OUT - Land East Of Mount Hindrance Farm Mount Hindrance Lane Chard TA20 1FF pdf icon PDF 967 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Proposal: Outline application for mixed development comprising residential development of up to 295 dwellings, provision of a floodlit full size football pitch, unlit full size training pitch and community sports pitch with associated multi use clubhouse, spectator facilities and vehicular parking area; hub for local neighbourhood facilities and other community uses, public open space, landscaping, drainage and other facilities; associated vehicular and pedestrian accesses, land regrading, associated infrastructure and engineering works.

 

The Agency Planner introduced his report in detail with the assistance of a power point presentation.  He advised that since writing his report a further 71 letters of support for the scheme, a petition of 600 signatures in support of the football club element of the proposal and 6 letters of objection had been received.  He said that a traffic management plan would agree access and timing of construction to avoid impact on neighbours and schools.  He noted that SCC Highway Authority or Ecologist had not raised any objections to the scheme.  A previous application for 450 houses at the site had been dismissed on appeal and the Planning Inspectors decision was a material consideration.  Although 2/3 of the site was outside the defined development limit, the lack of a 5 year housing land supply meant the proposal was acceptable subject to more work on the travel plan. 

 

In response to questions from Members, the Agency Planner and Lead Specialist for Development Management advised:-

 

·         The current housing land supply was 4.5 years and this would be reviewed in August 2020.

·         The Local Plan set out growth for Chard to the east of the town but the anticipated growth had not been as great as anticipated, possibly because of the access road not coming forward.  Because insufficient housing had been provided applications had been approved where not plan-led where the harm of the development was not evident.

·         If the site was not given permission then the 5 year housing land supply would deteriorate further.

·         Officers were working with a developer to deliver the access road to the east.

·         Other future development sites in the town were expected at Forton Road, Milford section and the Hannick area.

·         There were suggested highway improvements at the junction of B&Q and Victoria Avenue which would create a better traffic flow.

·         The site was in flood zone 1 which was the lowest probability of flooding.

·         The previous appeal at the site failed because the Planning Inspector said that although the site was acceptable on technical terms, he wished to allow the Chard Regeneration Scheme time to mature.

·         A representative of the Highway Authority had been invited to attend the meeting but none were available.

·         SSDC had not conducted its own traffic survey at the Convent junction because the Highway Authority had provided advice.

·         It was understood that two of the football pitches would be for Chard Town football club and one would be for community use.  The transfer of the land to the football club did not include the construction of a stadium.  Management  ...  view the full minutes text for item 117.

118.

Planning Application 19/00074/FUL - Land East Of Crimchard Chard TA20 1LU pdf icon PDF 878 KB

Minutes:

Proposal: The erection of 142 dwellings together with associated infrastructure including access/highway improvements, drainage and attenuation, play area, open space and landscaping.

 

The Agency Planner introduced his report in detail with the assistance of a power point presentation.  He advised that if granted, permission would be limited to one year to encourage the developer to start building out the site.  As with the previous application, the Planning Inspector’s decision on a previous application at the site was a material consideration as he had concluded that the site was acceptable but was premature and the Chard Regeneration Scheme should be allowed time to develop.  Access to the site would be through a new t-junction onto the Crimchard Road with a new footpath linking to the existing right of way.  The site was outside the Chard development area however the lack of a 5 year housing land supply outweighed this.  The site would cause no demonstrable harm and the recommendation was to approve the application subject to a Section 106 obligation.

 

In response to questions from Members, the Agency Planner and Lead Specialist for Development Management advised:-

 

·         None of the proposed site was within the defined development area.

·         Following the Area West Committee meeting the applicant had widened the access point and increased visibility at the entrance.

·         Officers would prefer the two sites to be linked but there were only pedestrian links proposed.

 

The Committee were then addressed by 3 local residents in opposition to the development.  Their comments included:-

 

·         Disagree with the results of the car parking survey and traffic survey submitted by the applicants.  The time taken to wait and pass parked cars is incorrect.

·         The plans showed a dotted line down the centre of the road but in reality it is a narrow country lane. 

·         Traffic exiting the development will either turn right or left and will mean another 300 or 400 cars through Wadeford and Combe St Nicholas.  Please bear in mind the impact on local villages.

·         The proposal is not sustainable as there are no nearby facilities and the school is full.

 

The Committee were then addressed by a transport adviser, the applicant and his agent in support of the application.  Their comments included:-

 

·         Visibility at the entrance had been maximised and new gateway features would help to reduce the speed of traffic.

·         Since the Area Committee meeting a traffic flow survey had been undertaken which indicated no material change to the free-flow of traffic on Crimchard Road.

·         As the adjacent site had been granted permission it was now logical to approve this as an infill site.

·         If permission was granted, development would commence within 6 weeks.

·         142 houses at this site will not prejudice the development to the east of Chard.

·         The infrastructure delivery plan said the doctors surgery and schools could cope with the addition of Section 106 contributions towards education.

 

At the conclusion of the debate, it was proposed and seconded to grant permission as per the officer’s recommendation and when put to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 118.

119.

Planning Application 19/00273/OUT - Bay Tree Farm Claycastle Haselbury Plucknett TA18 7PE - NOW WITHDRAWN FROM THIS AGENDA AND WILL BE CONSIDERED AT A FUTURE MEETING pdf icon PDF 618 KB

Minutes:

Proposal: Outline application for the development of up to 35 dwellings with all matters reserved except access including the demolition of the existing building and highways works to Claycastle.

 

This application was deferred to a future meeting for further information on drainage at the site, and, for a site visit to be arranged for the Regulation Committee members.

120.

Date of Next Meeting

The next scheduled meeting of the Regulation Committee will be held on Tuesday 17th March 2020 at 10.00am. However this meeting will only take place if there is business to conduct.

 

 

Minutes:

Members noted that the next meeting of the Regulation Committee would be held on Tuesday 17th March at 10.00am in the Council Chamber, Council Offices, Brympton Way, Yeovil.