Application to extend the time limit of planning permission DF13018 for the erection of 47 dwellings with associated garaging.  Provision of public open space and play area.  Construction of new vehicular access and estate road (Revised Scheme).  Alternative access proposals (Revised Scheme without traffic lights)

Application to extend the time limit of planning permission DF13018 for the erection of 47 dwellings with associated garaging.  Provision of public open space and play area.  Construction of new vehicular access and estate road (Revised Scheme).  Alternative access proposals (Revised Scheme without traffic lights)

Please refer to the late material circulated before the start of the meeting

Development Control Manager, Clive Reynolds, drew member’s attention to the late material and to the additional condition relating to the management of the play area and open space at the site. He also referred to the site inspection visit. Informing members that the application was for an extension of time limit on a previous application, (based on the presumption that there had been no material changes in circumstance), the Development Control Manager said that, whilst there had been some policy changes affecting the development, in principle, the polices and government guidance had remained effectively the same. He said that the only significant change was that the applicant had stated that the contributions secured with the previous permission were no longer deliverable due to changes in the economy. The Development Control Manager said that, following negotiations with the developer, the District Valuer had endorsed the applicant’s revised offer and that the recommendation was therefore one of delegated planning permission as per the schedule. The Development Control Manager later confirmed that the contributions that had been offered on the previous permission, (£515,717 plus 40 per cent affordable housing), had reduced to £296,100 contributions plus 17 per cent affordable housing.

Committee consideration

Local member, Councillor James Bevan, spoke of his disappointment of how this application had progressed and of his objections to the proposed changes to the scheme. He reminded members that this council had originally refused the application and that, following a quirk of fate, the planning inspector had overturned the decision. Although he opposed the revised scheme, Councillor Bevan said that, should the application be approved, he did not see a need for any more social housing in Lydney and that the site was too dense and over subscribed. Councillor Bevan proposed that the application be refused but this was unsuccessful as no one seconded the proposal.

Supported by several other members at the meeting, Councillor Terry Glastonbury said that he was both disappointed and angry about the stance of the Highway Authority. Such was his angst about the situation, Councillor Glastonbury said that he intended to write to the appropriate Cabinet Member at Gloucestershire County Council about his concerns.

Responding to concerns about the reduced level of contributions for the revised scheme, Development Control Manger, Clive Reynolds, said that the District Valuer had undertaken an independent examination on the viability of the scheme on behalf of the council, and that there had been little option other than to accept the offer. He said that the planning authority had challenged the proposals at every stage of the application and that the current proposal was the most robust offer.

With strong objections to the revised scheme and concerns about the intended density of housing at the site, the majority of members expressed their dissatisfaction at the proposals. Group Manager for Planning and Housing, Peter Williams, advised the committee that to reconsider the number of houses at the site would mean starting the application process from the beginning. With this in mind, Councillor Terry Glastonbury suggested that the application be deferred to allow officers to go back to Gloucestershire County Council (Highways) to express the committee’s dissatisfaction and to question why the previous contributions for a Residential Travel Plan (£11,510), Lydney Highway Strategy, (£69,062), Level crossing (£5,755) and Traffic Regulation Order (£11,510), were no longer required.

Vote

Councillor Terry Glastonbury proposed that the application be deferred to allow officers to renegotiate the required level of contributions for the scheme with Gloucestershire County Council (Highways). Councillor Roger Yeates seconded the proposal. A recorded was vote was taken and members,

RESOLVED to defer the application for officers to renegotiate the requirements of the Section 106 Legal Agreement with Gloucestershire County Council (Highways)

For (14)

Councillors James Bevan, Gethyn Davies, Frankie Evans, Jackie Fraser, Terry Glastonbury, Julia Gooch, Brian Jones, Gabriella Kirkpatrick, Graham Morgan, Norman Stephens, Lynn Sterry, Arthur Thomas, David Thompson and Roger Yeates. (Councillor Val Hobman was not present at the meeting for consideration of this item).

Against (0)

Abstentions (0)