Agenda and minutes

Venue: Parkside, Station Approach, Burton Street, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, LE13 1GH

Contact: Email: democracy@melton.gov.uk 

Note: Due to the latest Government announcements we are limiting capacity at Parkside, therefore it is recommended that you watch this meeting on YouTube using the 'Broadcast of Planning Committee' link below. 

Media

Items
No. Item

PL50

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

There were no apologies for absence.

PL51

Minutes pdf icon PDF 203 KB

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 10 November 2021

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 10 November 2021 were confirmed as a true record.

PL52

Declarations of Interest pdf icon PDF 85 KB

Members to declare any interest as appropriate in respect of items to be considered at this meeting.

Minutes:

Councillor Posnett held a standing personal interest in any matters relating to the Leicestershire County Council due to her role as a County Councillor.

 

Minute PL54 - 19/01384/REM – Millway Foods Ltd, Colston Lane, Harby

Minute PL57 - 21/01060/FUL – Tofts Hill, Stathern

Councillor Steadman advised that she would be representing her ward on these two applications by making a representation to the Committee. She would therefore take no part in the debate nor vote on these items in accordance with the Council’s Procedure Rules.

 

Minute PL58 - 21/01092/VAC - Fields OS2713 and 2100, Longcliff Hill, Old Dalby

Councillor Browne declared a personal interest in this application due to his association and friendship with the previous owner of the site and advised he would leave the meeting, take no part in the debate nor vote on this item.

 

It was reported that Councillor Orson, the Ward Councillor, would not be in attendance to speak on this application as he had a disclosable pecuniary and personal interest as the previous owner of the site.

PL53

Schedule of Applications

PL54

Application 19/01384/REM pdf icon PDF 337 KB

Millway Foods Ltd, Colston Lane, Harby

Minutes:

Reference:

19/01384/REM

Location:

Millway Foods Ltd, Colston Lane, Harby

Proposal:

Erection of 53 dwellings (reserved matters to outline planning permission 15/00673/OUT

 

(Councillor Steadman declared her intention to speak as Ward Councillor and moved  into the public gallery, took no part in the debate nor voted on this application.)

 

The Assistant Director for Planning and Delivery addressed the Committee and provided a summary of the application. He updated Members that the developer had now secured agreement with Severn Trent Water for the discharge into the canal. He advised this was for information and was not a reserved matter and therefore was not part of this application (paragraph 3.10 of the report referred). He summarised that the recommendation remained for approval.

 

Pursuant to Chapter 2, Part 9, Paragraphs 2.8-2.28 of the Council’s Constitution in relation to  public speaking at Planning Committee, the Chair allowed the following to give a 3 minute presentation:

 

·         Matthew Mortonson of Ninteen47, Agent

Mr Mortonson responded to Member questions as follows:

·      There had been ongoing discussions with officers since 2019

·      All matters raised by officers had been taken into account including the SPD

·      Severn Trent Water had agreed discharge into the canal

 

·         Councillor Mel Steadman, Ward Councillor

     Councillor Steadman responded to a Member query that she had been involved in discussions with the developer about the two additional conditions she had requested and she felt more pull in places were needed as tandem parking did not work

 

During discussion the following points were noted:

 

·           There was concern as to the Severn Trent Water discharge into the canal although this was noted as not being part of this application but it was felt that should the application be approved, this matter should be brought back to the Committee

·           There was a concern that the design was poor and did not suit a rural setting; the houses and tandem parking did not fit with the village scene and it was considered there would be too much on-street parking

·           It was noted that this application was concerned with design and layout only and any revisions could be suggested

·           Should the application be approved, there was a request for 5 additional pull in spaces and parking outside plot number 40 to be rearranged

 

Councillor Illingworth proposed that the application be approved with the additional conditions requested by the Ward Councillor being 5 additional pull in spaces and parking outside plot 40 being rearranged as well as an extra condition relating to water should this be needed. Councillor Douglas seconded the motion. On being put to the vote, the motion was not carried with a vote of 3 for and 7 against.

 

Councillor Browne proposed that the application be refused due to being in conflict with Local Plan policy D1 and Neighbourhood Plan Policy T4; the scheme being of poor design with (a) tandem parking likely to lead to on-street parking which would be unattractive and (b) the houses were not in-keeping or sympathetic with the context of the site provided by its  ...  view the full minutes text for item PL54

PL55

Application 21/00310/FUL pdf icon PDF 239 KB

Hose Garage, 19 Harby Lane, Hose

Minutes:

Application:

21/00310/FUL

Location:

Hose Garage, 19 Harby Lane, Hose

Proposal:

Demolition of garage and construction of 2 dwellings

 

The Senior Planning Officer (RR) addressed the Committee and provided a summary of the application and summarised that the recommendation was for approval.

 

There was a query as to contamination on the site and the Senior Planning Officer responded that there were conditions in the report that dealt with contamination and Environmental Health was satisfied with this position.

 

Pursuant to Chapter 2, Part 9, Paragraphs 2.8-2.28 of the Council’s Constitution in relation to  public speaking at Planning Committee, the Chair allowed the following to give a 3 minute presentation:

 

·         Neil Smith, Applicant

 

During discussion the following points were noted:

 

·           There was agreement that 2 houses on the site was better than 3

·           It was mentioned that the garage should not be able to be converted to a room as it helped to alleviate on-street parking

·           Limitation on use of the garage was requested

·           The proposal complied with Local Plan policies and the developer had listened to the Parish Council and  Ward Councillor and therefore there was no reason to refuse the application

 

Councillor Steadman proposed that the application be approved with conditions ensuring the use of the garage for parking. Councillor Wood seconded the motion.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the application be APPROVED subject to the conditions set out in Appendix C and conditions limiting the use of the garage.

 

(Unanimous)

 

REASONS

 

The proposal represents sustainable development in principle in an appropriate, acceptable location in accordance with both Local Plan and Neighbourhood Plan policies.

 

As a result of discussions leading to amended plans, the scheme as amended will positively contribute to the identified housing mix for the area while also being in-keeping with the character and appearance of the area without raising unacceptable impacts on amenity.

PL56

Application 21/00834/FUL - Withdrawn

Meadow Cottage, 37 New Road, Burton Lazars

Minutes:

This application was withdrawn from the agenda.

PL57

Application 21/01060/FUL pdf icon PDF 330 KB

Tofts Hill, Stathern

Minutes:

Application:

21/01060/FUL

Location

Tofts Hill, Stathern

Proposal:

Demolition of redundant barns and their replacement with a single dwelling house (Class C3)

 

(Councillor Steadman declared her intention to speak as Ward Councillor, moved into the public gallery and took no part in the debate nor voted on this application.)

 

The Planning Officer (GE) addressed the Committee and provided a summary of the application. He summarised that the recommendation was for refusal.

 

Pursuant to Chapter 2, Part 9, Paragraphs 2.8-2.28 of the Council’s Constitution in relation to  public speaking at Planning Committee, the Chair allowed the following to give a 3 minute presentation:

 

·         Councillor Ken Bray, Stathern Parish Council

·         Councillor Mel Steadman, Ward Councillor

 

During discussion the following points were noted:

 

·         It was considered there had been no significant improvement than what had previously been presented on the site. It had been noted that the Inspector had stated the area should be protected and the Committee had always been in agreement with this view

·         The application was for a very large house and was calling itself a farm which was felt to be a slight on the farming industry as there was no evidence of such activity

·         It was felt the house was not in-keeping with the landscape

·         It was noted that the application had not been submitted under the  exceptional house criteria (paragraph 80e)

 

Councillor Chandler proposed that the application be refused. Councillor Holmes seconded the motion.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the application be REFUSED.

 

(Unanimous)

 

REASONS

 

The development would raise no significant, adverse impacts on ecology, archaeology or highway safety grounds that would warrant refusal.

 

In the opinion of the Local Planning Authority the proposed development would result in the introduction of residential development that would occupy a detached location outside of the built up confines of Stathern. The site is adjacent to the Conservation Area and contributes to the rural setting of the village of which the introduction of residential development and associated paraphernalia, by virtue of its scale, form and mass, would disrupt. As such, the proposal would have adverse impacts upon the character of the local area, wider landscape and setting of the Conservation Area. For these reasons, the proposal is considered to conflict with Policies EN1, EN6 and EN13 of the Melton Local Planning Report 21/01060 Tofts Hill Stathern 3 Plan and as such would not represent a form of suitable windfall residential development as stated in Policies SS1 and SS2 of the Melton Local Plan.

 

(Councillor Steadman here re-joined the Committee.)

PL58

Application 21/01092/VAC pdf icon PDF 431 KB

Fields OS2713 and 2100, Longcliff Hill, Old Dalby

Minutes:

Application:

21/01092/VAC

Location

Fields OS2713 and 2100, Longcliff Hill, Old Dalby

Proposal:

Removal of Condition 22 (infilling of ditch) of planning permission

 

(Councillor Browne here left the meeting due to his interest declared at Minute PL52).

 

The Assistant Director for Planning and Delivery addressed the Committee and provided a summary of the application. He summarised that the recommendation was for approval.

 

Pursuant to Chapter 2, Part 9, Paragraphs 2.8-2.28 of the Council’s Constitution in relation to  public speaking at Planning Committee, the Chair allowed the following to give a 3 minute presentation:

 

·         Councillor Jerzy Schmidt, Broughton & Old Dalby Parish Council

A Member expressed an apology to the Parish Council regarding the urban look of the houses when a rural aspect had been preferred during discussions.

 

·         James Botterill, Agent

Mr Botterill responded to Member questions as follows:

·      There was no benefit in retaining the condition as the ditch served no purpose.

·      Historically there had been a ditch on the site but the development included a new drainage scheme that was not reliant on the ditch and the ditch was now dry, therefore it was no longer required on the site. 

 

The Solicitor reminded the Committee that this was not a retrospective application but was to deal with the one item as presented.

 

During discussion the following points were noted:

 

·         It was considered that dry ditches were beneficial to wildlife and could be very important from an ecology perspective which meant the ditch did add value contrary to the County Council’s Ecology’s view

·         Members questioned changing the status quo and if there was no benefit to anyone in changing the current position then there was no reason to remove the ditch

·         It was felt there was an ecological sense of place to retain the ditch in the same way as hedgerows were retained

 

Councillor Steadman proposed that the application be refused to protect the wildlife corridor and due to being in conflict with Neighbourhood Plan policies ENV3 and ENV4 and Local Plan policy EN2. Councillor Pritchett seconded the motion.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the application be REFUSED, contrary to the Officer recommendation, because the removal of the ditch would fail to protect and enhance the wildlife corridor of which it forms part and would be contrary to Policies ENV3 and ENV4 of the Broughton and Old Dalby Parish Neighbourhood Plan 2017-2036 and Policy EN2 of the Adopted Melton Local Plan 2011-2036.

 

(Unanimous)

PL59

Urgent Business

To consider any other business that the Chair considers urgent

 

Minutes:

There was no urgent business.

 

A to Z of Council Services