Issue - meetings

Residential Development of 30 Units (to include 12 affordable units) together with infrastructure, parking spaces, access, footpaths and amenity area.

LOCAL MEMBER; Councillor Gareth A Roberts

Link to relevant background papers

DECISION

·                     To refer the application to a cooling off period

·                     To refuse the application for the following reasons

•           Lack of need for housing

•           Linguistic Assessment is insufficient

•           Flooding matters

•           Land contamination matters

•           Transportation matters – Penrhos Road junction and also Penyffridd Road

•           Insufficient provision / contribution of open spaces

a)    The Planning Manager elaborated on the background of the application and explained that the proposal was located in Penrhosgarnedd and was a site previously used by Bangor University as a horticulture field centre.  Currently, it was a plot of derelict and abandoned land that was overgrown and the site of the former field centre building, demolished some time ago.  Residential housing surround the site, in the form of an estate and the site was within the Bangor development boundary.

It was reported that the construction of housing on a site within the development boundary was acceptable.  In the context of the application, it was highlighted that the proposed density of the housing development was a little lower than expected, however, bearing in mind the limitations of the site that included the need to create a wildlife corridor, retaining the copse, providing open amenity spaces together with safeguarding an area for land drainage, it was considered that providing 30 units would be acceptable for the site.  

It was highlighted that Policy TAI 1 stated that housing would be delivered through housing allocations together with suitable windfall sites within the development boundary. It was true that the land in question had not been allocated for housing, but was entirely located within the development boundary and there was an element of recognition regarding the growth of Bangor via windfall sites.    

It was noted that the Bangor indicative supply level over the term of the Local Development Plan was 969. In accordance with more recent figures (as a result of regular monitoring), that considered completed units, the number in the current land bank and the number in the application, the capacity/indicative target for the site was 10 units. To provide more than the indicative target, it was explained that the applicant had to submit a justification that satisfied the Council that the proposal addressed the recognised need for housing. In this case, 12 of the proposed units would be affordable housing (a higher percentage than policy requirement) together with 18 units to be sold on the open market. It was noted that the housing mix statement corresponded to the need and the Council's Strategic Housing Unit had confirmed that the 30 units were on the list of contingency schemes to receive Welsh Government Community Housing grant bearing in mind that such a development was a priority.     

It was also noted that the applicant had stated there was potential for some open market housing to be offered as intermediate rented housing or as an equity sharing scheme that would increase the number of accredited affordable housing that would be offered. It was added that there was an element of certainty that the proposal would be realised soon and address the recognised need for housing in the area.  It was reported that the plan was of high quality with the feeling and form of an estate that would provide housing for families with plenty of surrounding green areas. 

Attention was drawn to the main objections  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10