Agenda item

Planning Application 19/02656/FUL** - Land OS 0002 South of Coat Road, Martock

Minutes:

Application Proposal: The erection of 120 dwellings together with associated infrastructure including access/highway improvements, drainage and attenuation, play area, open space and landscaping (Re-Submission)

The Agency Planning Officer advised that this was the full planning application version of the previously discussed application at the same site. He drew Members attention to the plan detailing the additional parking proposed, the house types and the variety of materials to be used across the site. He confirmed that his recommendation was to approve the application.

The Committee were then addressed by 5 local residents in opposition to the proposed development. Their comments included:-

· The officer’s report did not list all of the public objections to the application, for example, proximity to existing residents, wheelchair access, impact on Station Road, visitor spaces near play area, inadequate junction onto A303 and, lack of local employment.

· The houses should be designed to incorporate the maximum sustainable energy and carbon offset possible.

· The last traffic survey on Coat Road indicated an 18% increase in traffic, the local bus service was not attractive and more thought should be given to pedestrian and cycle links.

· There is only 15.5m distance between the windows of the proposed houses and my property in Hills Orchard which is a contravention of planning guidance.

· The balance of housing needed to be addressed as an Estate Agent survey showed that smaller houses were in demand.

The Agent for the applicant advised that the proposed photovoltaic panels would achieve the 15% carbon reduction, although, there was no quantifiable policy used by nearby local authorities as a benchmark. He reminded Members that the County Highway Authority had not objected to the application and the majority of the housing proposed would be 2 or 3 bedroom.

One of the Ward Members, Councillor Louise Clarke, said the additional car parking spaces proposed were a small part of the application and its lack of sustainability and environmental issues were the main reasons it should be refused permission.

The other Ward Member, Councillor Neil Bloomfield, questioned whether some of the properties would be 2 ½ storeys high and listed carbon reduction, additional cars, lack of sustainability and the lack of GP’s in the village as reasons to refuse the application.

In response to questions from Members, the Lead Specialist for Development Management advised that the windows proposed to overlook properties in Hills Orchard were not principle windows and were side windows to the proposed properties therefore the shorter distance was allowed.

During a short debate Members proposed that the application be refused for the same reasons as the previous outline application.

It was proposed and seconded to refuse the application because the proposal for 120 dwellings would take the level of growth for Martock to 335 dwellings over the plan period. This would represent a scale of growth which was 48% over the indicative target for the Rural Centre, and also the development was considered unsustainable.

This proposal was put to the vote and carried by 6 votes in favour, 4 against and 0 abstentions.

RESOLVED:

That planning application 29/02656/FUL be REFUSED permission contrary to the officer’s recommendation for the following reasons:

1. The proposal for 120 dwellings would take the level of growth for Martock to 335 dwellings over the plan period. This would represent a scale of growth which is 48% over the indicative target for this Rural Centre as set out in Policy SS5 of the South Somerset Local Plan (2006-2028). As such, the development would be a significant increase over that envisaged in Policy SS5 and would be contrary to the intended growth strategy and settlement strategy and therefore contrary to Policies SD1, SS1 and SS5 of the South Somerset Local Plan (2006-2028).

2. The development is considered unsustainable by reason of:

a) Martock’s lack of self-containment, leading to 80% out-commuting and

b) the failure to ensure that carbon dioxide emissions are minimised through construction techniques, especially considering the Council’s declared Climate Emergency,

contrary to the aims and objectives of the National Planning Policy Framework and Policy EQ1 of the South Somerset Local Plan (2006-2028).

(Voting: 6 in favour, 4 against, 0 abstentions)

NB: As the application is two-starred and Area North Committee has resolved to refuse the application, it will now be referred to the Council’s Regulation Committee for determination.

Supporting documents: