Issue - meetings

Melton Spinney Road, Melton Mowbray

Applicant:  Taylor Wimpey

Location:   Land off Field OS 3968, Melton Spinney Road, Thorpe Arnold

Proposal:  Approval of reserved matters related to appearance, landscaping, layout and scale attached to outline approval 14/00808/OUT for the erection of 200 dwellings and provision swales/drainage infrastructure/public open space and associated works

The Planning Officer (RN) addressed the Committee and provided a brief summary of the application.  Mr Nallamilli also confirmed the following:

• Developers had provided a Sustainability Assessment and a Building for Life Assessment to comply with climate change and energy efficiency measures;
• Any reference to Japanese Knot Weed in the report was in fact reference to Mare’s Tail;
• An amendment to Condition No. 5, first point “following first occupation of the development” to be replaced with “following commencement of the development”;
• Three additional conditions were proposed for addition as detailed below;
• Additional information on the housing delivery programme had been provided; and

• There had been discussions with the developer in relation to street naming and the developer had suggested that if it was considered appropriate the main avenue could be named after Bill Forbes, who had been a leading volunteer for the Friends of Melton Country Park.

Pursuant to Chapter 2, Part 9, Para 2.8-2.28 of the Council’s Constitution in relation to public speaking at Planning Committee, the Chairman allowed the following to give a four minute presentation:

1. Jane Wilson – Chair of Melton Country Park

Following questions from Members, Mrs Wilson confirmed:

• The three proposed access points would be for pedestrians and not vehicles
• The proposed access from the Distributor Road was closer to the Newt Pond than the ecology report had indicated.

2. Caroline Chave (Chave Planning) – Agent on behalf of the applicant

Following questions from Members, Ms Chave confirmed:

• The hydrobrake would allow for rainfall collected in the attenuation pond to be discharged at a low rate into the Thorpe Brook;
• Although the exact detail was not to hand, Taylor Wimpey did employ local workers from the East Midlands region;
• The developer would work in consultation with the Friends of the Country Park on the landscaping design.

3. Councillors Glancy and Lumley – Ward Councillors

During discussion the following points were noted:

1. The building schedule went up to 2034, Members felt this left time for further consideration of viability with regard to the use of solar tiles.  The Planning Officer clarified that the developer had committed to looking into the provision of solar panels on future developments, but that this would not be possible for this site.  There were no policies within the Local Plan which covered the installation of solar panels and therefore this could not be added as a condition.  As lead member for Climate Change, Councillor Illingworth requested that he be involved in any ongoing dialogue regarding this matter;
2. Street names would be considered in consultation with Ward Councillors;
3. The reference to informal surveillance in relation to the play area was clarified, as the area was overlooked by surrounding houses and as such was not isolated; and
4. Members  ...  view the full minutes text for item 146