Agenda item

Field OS No 7000, Bescaby Lane, Waltham on the Wolds

Applicant: Davidsons Developments Ltd and The Bicker Family

Location: Field OS No. 7000, Bescaby Lane, Waltham on the Wolds

Proposal: Outline planning application for up to 45 No. dwellings (Re-submission of 16/00793/OUT)

 

(a)       The Planning Officer presented the report and stated that:

•          One update is the Parish Council has submitted their comments saying the proposal does not conform to neighbourhood plan policies Policy S1: Limits to Development; Policy H1: Housing Provision; Policy ENV4: Protection of Other Sites of Environmental (natural or historical) Significance; Policy ENV11: Ridge and Furrow Fields (edited); Policy ENV12: Protection of Important Views (edited); Policy ENV16: Groundwater Flooding; Policy T1: Transport Requirements for New Developments (edited)

•           Resubmission of 16/0793/OUT refused on 18/10/2017

•           New proposal not different to original scheme

•          Different policy position as not allocate in new local plan nor neighbourhood plan that security majority vote at referendum on 12/04/2018

•          Despite being a sustainable location as recognised as part of the last proposal’s determination and section 106 contributions its lack of conformity with neighbourhood plan and local policies mean the proposal is refused.

 

The Chair asked Members if they would suspend standing orders to allow 2 objectors to speak. Cllr Holmes proposed to allow this and was seconded by Cllr Posnett. All were in favour.

 

(b)       Malcolm Mills, on behalf of the Parish Council, was invited to speak and stated that:

•           Contrary to Neighbourhood Plan

•           Outside Neighbourhood Plan and Local Plan

•           Contrary to housing provision

•           Potential for archaeological remains

•           Protection of important views

•           Adverse impact on character setting

•           Ground water for flooding

•           Contrary to Policy ENV 16

•           Adverse impact on High Street and surrounding area

 

(c)        Geoffrey Hulland, an objector, was invited to speak and stated that:

•           Site not identified as new housing development

•           Policy OS2 allows development for recreation etc., not housing

•           Close to old quarry which is an SSSI site

•           Abuts conservation area

•           Bescaby Lane and High Street cannot sustain extra traffic

•          Local school is almost at full capacity and face the probability of existing families having children bussed to other schools

•           Flooding issues

•           Facility to walk Bescaby Lane would be lost

 

A Cllr asked Mr Hulland to expand on his point about the school and busing people in.

 

Mr Hulland stated that the capacity is already fairly tight and if there are no changes to the infrastructure existing families in Waltham may not get their children into the school.

 

(d)       Malcolm Mills, on behalf of Teresa Tunstall, an objector, was invited to speak and stated that:

•           Site not in Local Plan

•           Heritage asset

•           Flooding issues

•           Increase traffic congestion on High Street

•           Previous reasons for refusal still stand

•           In conflict with Neighbourhood Plan

 

(e)       George Machin, the agent, was invited to speak and stated that:

•           Sustainable location

•           Previous refusal reasons overcome

•           Conservation Officer has no concerns relating to the ridge and furrow

•           No objection from archaeology

•           Highways deem is acceptable subject to conditions

•           Contribution to school so it can expand

•           Addition of crossing close to school gives safety to students

•           Affordable housing

•           Site capable of accommodating up to 45 dwellings

•           Modest proposal

•           Long term viability

•           Benefits outweigh harm

 

The Planning Officer stated that the appropriate authorities can mitigate factors such as flooding, highways and SSSI.

 

Cllr Holmes proposed to refuse the application in line with the officer’s report as the weight of the Neighbourhood Plan is important. Waltham has already met its allocation of houses.

 

Cllr Baguley seconded the proposal to refuse due to the application being against the Local Plan.

 

A Cllr stated that they supported the refusal as they could not go against the Local Plan as this late a stage.

 

The Chair agreed and stated the proposal is in conflict with the Neighbourhood and Local Plans.

 

A vote was taken and it was unanimously decided that the application should be refused.

 

DETERMINATION: REFUSE, for the following reasons:

 

1.         The development proposed by virtue of its siting outside of the limits to development for Waltham on the Wolds and not part of allocated sites, it is therefore in contrary to policy H1 of the Waltham on the Wolds neighbourhood plan. There are no other material considerations that have been deemed to override this neighbourhood plan policy conflict

 

2.         The development proposed by virtue of its lack of inclusion as an allocated site for development in the emerging local plan for Melton 2011-2036 is contrary to SS2 and SS3 of the emerging local plan 2011-2036.There are no other material considerations that have been deemed to override this development plan policy conflict.