Agenda item

Reserved matters application for the erection of 354no. dwellings (C3), including 18 affordable units, and the associated infrastructure including landscaping and public open space pursuant to outline planning permission 2017/0999.

Chris Gowlett, Land & Planning Manager, Persimmon Homes (The Applicant) spoke in support of the application.

The Assistant Director of Planning and Regeneration informed members that the application sought approval of reserved matters for 353 dwellings and not 354, as an amended plan was received following the registration of the application which resulted in the omission of a two bedroom apartment. The description of the proposal had therefore been updated, as was the schedule of accommodation provided at paragraph 3.2 of the report and the overall figures provided at paragraph 7.3. The plans listed in proposed condition 1 were correct.

He added that further to the publication of the report, 2 representations had been received from members of the public which raised the following summarised issues:

• The ecology assessments submitted with the application for outline planning permission were out of date as habitats in the area had changed since the survey work had been undertaken. 
• The ecological works plan and ecology management plan had not been approved and there was no ecology committee, as required by the s.106 agreement.
• No action had been taken by the Borough Council to enforce the non-compliance of the agreement.
• Since an initial meeting of the Ecology Committee, organised by Gedling Borough Council in July 2019, there had been no follow up or attempt to form the Committee.
• The development would have a significant impact upon the adjacent Netherfield Lagoons Local Nature Reserve.
• Given the current breaches of the s.106 Agreement, the current application should be rejected or suspended, pending compliance with the s.106 agreement. 

In response to those comments, he provided the following update:

The extant outline planning permission and the s.106 agreement cannot be revisited, unless revised proposals are advanced by the developer. While there may have been ecological changes on parts of the site – the developer is still required to meet their obligations under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

Officers had been working actively with Persimmon Homes to set up an Ecology Committee to provide a forum for the local community to discuss the management of the Ecology Park. The responsibility for establishing the Ecology Committee rests with Persimmon Homes but officers had ensured consultation took place with members of the group, which included the Gedling Conservation Trust. 

The first informal face to face meeting of the Ecology Committee was held in July 2019 and officers played an active role in helping draft the terms and conditions of the group, which were now being finalised.

Officers expected the next meeting of the Ecology Committee to take place next month and were committed to working with all members of the group and the local community to further progress plans for the Ecology Park and Ecology Management Plan. Enforcement of the agreement would not, therefore be expedient at this time.

While there is a technical breach of the s.106 agreement, this does not preclude the Local Planning Committee from determining this application for approval of reserved matters, which is made pursuant to an extant permission.

The principle of residential development and the access arrangements has been established through the grant of the outline permission. This application has been made pursuant to the extant outline permission and seeks approval of matters relating to appearance, layout, scale and landscaping.

The development is a continuation of the first 199 units approved in phase one and the layout and landscaping proposals were in full conformity with the approved masterplan. The proposals had been advanced by the same house builder and the scale and appearance of the dwellings were in keeping with those currently under construction. There were however some new house types, including an apartment block to add further interest to the new street scenes. Building heights were varied in the development, particularly at key locations to provide focal points and end stops to street views and vistas.

He concluded by stating that the application was considered to comply with relevant planning policies and that approval for the development was still recommended.

RESOLVED:

To Grant Approval of Reserved Matters subject to the following conditions:

1.    This permission shall be read in accordance with the following plans:

Planning Layout Drawing No. TGDP/TCG/PH2/PL1 Rev K

House Types:

Apartment Elevation A, B, C, D.

Apartment Ground Floor/First Floor/Second Floor

1096 Rosebery,1187 Leicester,1190 Kendal,1190 Kendal 1,1220 Lumley, 1222 Chedworth, 1277 Winster 1, 1277 Winster 2, 1414 Corfe, 1414 Corfe 1, 1570 Edlingham, 1623 Marylebone 1, 163 Marylebone 2, 638 Alnwick, 643 Alnmouth, 761 Hanury, 762 Mosley, 811 Danbury, 870 Rufford, 960 Yarm, 969 Hatfield, 985 Brickleigh, 999 Glyston.

Landscaping Plans Sheets 1-9

Materials/Boundary Treatments Charter Plan Layout Sheet 1-2 and 2-2.

The development shall thereafter be undertaken in accordance with these plans.

Reason: To define the permission and for the avoidance of doubt.

2.    No part of the development hereby permitted shall be brought into use until all drives and parking areas are surfaced in a bound material (not loose gravel). The surfaced drives and parking areas shall then be maintained in such bound material for the life of the development.

Reason: To reduce the possibility of deleterious material being deposited on the publichighway.

3.    No part of the development hereby permitted shall be brought into use untilthe access driveways and parking areas are constructed with provision to prevent the unregulated discharge of surface water from the driveways and parking areas to the public highway. The provision to prevent the unregulated discharge of surface water to the public highway shall then be retained for the life of the development.

Reason: To ensure surface water from the site is not deposited on the public highwaycausing dangers to road users.