Agenda and minutes

To approve the minutes of the previous meetings held on 17^th September 2019, 15^th October 2019, 29^th October 2019 and 18^th Feb 2020.  Also to approve the minutes of the virtual consultative meeting of Regulation Committee members held on Tuesday 21^st April 2020.

The minutes of the Regulation Committee meetings held on 17^th September 2019, 15^th October 2019, 29^th October 2019 and 18^th Feb 2020.  Also the minutes of the virtual consultative meeting of Regulation Committee members held on Tuesday 21^st April 2020, copies of which had been circulated, were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no questions from members of the public.

Proposal: Outline application with all matters reserved save for access for residential development for up to 49 dwellings including landscaping, drainage and new vehicle access from West Street, Templecombe BA8 0LG

The Planning Consultant introduced the report and advised that the site was approximately 2.5ha of greenfield land on the western edge of Templecombe.  The site was adjacent to a residential estate and permission had already been granted for 4 new dwellings at Coombe Farm to the West of the site.  The proposed access to the site from the A357 would be through Vine Street, Westcombe and West Street.  The existing hedge boundary would be retained with a pavement to link the development to the village centre.  The existing field access would be widened to be the main access which was the main consideration as all other matters would be subject to a reserved matters application.  

The Planning Consultant advised that a further plan had been submitted by the Applicant to confirm the area of land proposed for public open space.  Reference was made to an updated Travel Plan submitted by the Applicant’s Highway Consultant showing the local infrastructure and anticipated routes people would use to access local services, roads with pavements and those roads without pavements.

The Planning Consultant noted the narrow access along Vine Street which was a one way street and the on-street parking further along the road.  He drew Members attention to an existing permission for 70 dwellings at Slades Hill and also 19 dwellings at Throop Road, Templecombe.  He said that there were over 30 objections to the application and none in support.  He drew Members attention to the housing land supply, the accessibility and highway safety.  In respect of the latter, he read out a statement prepared by the County Highway Authority clarifying its reasoning behind its recommendation of no highways objection. He concluded that on balance the conflict with the development plan was not sufficient to significantly and demonstrably outweigh the significant and moderate weights that were given to the benefits of the proposal.  He mentioned a recent appeal at Henstridge which had been allowed in a rural settlement in 2018 which he asked Members to consider.

The Planning Consultant said that an updated Highways Technical Note had been received from the Applicant which had been forwarded to members of the Committee.  It had been suggested that should the Highway Authority agree the Applicant would be prepared to make financial contributions towards carriageway markings and signage.  He advised that he had sought legal opinion and as the Highway Authority had raised no objections, the proposed contributions would not be necessary and therefore unsound.  The Highway Authority had commented that the majority of the routes benefited from footways or walkable verges and as such already catered for the slight increase in pedestrian traffic generated by the development site.  The proposed markings would not be acceptable by the Highway Authority.  He also updated that a legal opinion had been submitted by the Solicitors  ...  view the full minutes text for item 125.

The next scheduled meeting of the Regulation Committee will be held on Tuesday 16^th June 2020 at 10.00am.

Members noted the date of the next meeting.