Agenda item

Reserved matters in relation to application C13/0611/18/AM for a residential development of 17 houses (including two affordable homes) and new access - amended plans and additional information

 

LOCAL MEMBER: Councillor Elfed Williams

 

Link to relevant background documents

To delegate powers to the Assistant Head of the Environment Department to approve the application, subject to the following conditions:

 

          Conditions:

 

          1.            In accordance with the revised plans.

   2.           Comply with the requirements of the Ordinary Watercourse Land Drainage Consent.

 

A note for the applicant relating to Public Protection Service advice on contaminated land.

 

 

 

a)    The Senior Development Control Officer expanded upon the background of the application. It was explained that the principle of the proposal had already been discussed and approved under the outline application, and this application in question was only for assessing elements relating to scale, appearance, landscaping and access as reserved matters. In addition to the reserved matters, there was also a need to comply with conditions relating to submitting details as follows:-

 

(i)            a Desk Study to assess the risk of potential pollution on the site;

(ii)           further information/explanation on flood alleviation measures;

(iii)          a Management Statement to be agreed with the Local Planning Authority for the watercourse that ran through the site; 

(iv)          providing and implementing a surface water management system; 

(v)           access path to the watercourse, improvements to the inlet arrangements and removal of culvert.

 

It was reported that the site was located to the south-west of Deiniolen on a section of derelict land which was, historically, used for the climbing equipment manufacturing industry. Amended plans had been submitted with the application and it was noted that the relevant policies along with the responses to the consultation period had been included in the report.

 

In the context of visual amenities, the principle of erecting 17 houses on the site had already been accepted. Given the layout of the site within the landscape along with its proximity to the built areas, it was not believed that the development would have a significant impact on the layout, character or views in or out of this historic landscape.  It was reiterated that the site was deteriorating in terms of visual amenities and was an eyesore in the landscape. Approving this application was likely to be a step towards improving the visual amenities in this part of the village. Also, given the layout and design of the proposed houses on the site in relation to the setting and form of nearby dwellings, it was considered there would be no significant or substantial impact on the residential or general amenities of these dwellings

 

It was reported that it was proposed to create a new access to replace the existing access for the housing development from the nearby class III county road. Despite receiving an objection to the application on grounds of road safety, the principle of creating a new access had already been accepted. Detailed plans had been submitted along with a Flood Consequence Assessment, an Addendum to the Flood Consequence Assessment, Statement of the Details of Water Discharge from the Site, Method Statement for Works on improvements to the watercourse that ran through the site and a Management Plan for the watercourse to meet the requirements of the outline application. It was reiterated that the Council's Water and Environment Unit had given permission to the applicant to undertake improvement works to the watercourse which included installing a gravel trap and building an inlet chamber with a weed screen.  The work should ensure that floods would not derive from the watercourse to the proposed houses or out to the adjacent road.

 

A Phase 1 and Phase 2 Contaminated Land Survey Report had been submitted. After investigations and taking earth samples, no contamination sources had been discovered within the site. It was reiterated that the Public Protection Service was happy with the conclusions of the Contamination Report.

 

It was considered that the planning application met with the requirements of local and national planning policy.

b)    Taking advantage of the right to speak, the Local Member made the following points:

·         Accepted that the application was for assessing some elements of the development only, but needed to highlight flooding issues in the area - needed to ensure that preventative work was completed

·         There was a need to hold a discussion with Council officers regarding the opinion on the development in relation to the UNESCO candidacy

·         A request to consider increasing the number of affordable homes within the development

·         Concern regarding the lack of pavements - undermining safety requirements

·         A request to consider using Welsh names for the houses

·         No objection to housing, but housing for local people was needed

 

c)    It was proposed and seconded to approve the application

 

ch)  During the ensuing discussion members made the following observations:

·           Concern regarding the low number of affordable housing

·           A suggestion that the housing design should be more innovative

·           Need to consider the lack of pavements

·           A request to provide a play area

·           Concern about flooding - was the site itself subject to flooding?

·           A suggestion to consider whether or not using the word 'nepell' in paragraph 5.6 of the Welsh version was correct

 

d)    In response to the comments, the Monitoring Officer noted that the principle of the development had already been established and that the committee was now discussing the reserved matters. The Assistant Head of Planning and the Environment reiterated that the matters that could be discussed were limited. It was highlighted that Natural Resources Wales, the Drainage Unit and the Transportation Unit did not object to the application and in terms of UNESCO, it was noted that Cadw, as one of the statutory consultees, had not objected to the application. It was noted that the justification for approving the application was based on the evidence submitted in the report.

 

In response to a question whether or not the design of the houses had been agreed, the Development Control Officer noted that originally outline plans had been submitted setting out the layout of the houses. It was reiterated that the current plans were amended ones, the layout had been resubmitted and the design of the houses was more acceptable. The Planning Manager noted that the housing mix had not been a consideration when the outline application was approved - that housing mix was a matter that had been introduced as part of the supplementary planning guidance since then. Consequently, it was not possible to revisit matters relating to housing mix.

       

RESOLVED: To delegate powers to the Assistant Head of the Environment Department to approve the application, subject to the following conditions:

 

          Conditions:

 

          1.            In accordance with the revised plans.

              2.         Comply with the requirements of the Ordinary Watercourse Land Drainage   Consent.

 

A note for the applicant relating to Public Protection Service advice on contaminated land.