Agenda item

Application for matters reserved for the erection of 45 dwellings (including 23 affordable dwellings), create a new access, improve existing access, provide public amenity spaces, parking accommodation and landscaping

LOCAL MEMBERS: COUNCILLOR ROY OWEN and COUNCILLOR OLAF CAI                                   LARSEN

Link to relevant background documents

Reserved matters application to construct 45 dwellings (including 23 affordable houses) together with the creation of a new access, upgrading the existing access, provision of public amenity spaces, parking spaces and landscaping

Attention was drawn to the additional observations that had been received.

a)      The Senior Development Control Officer elaborated on the background of the application, reporting that an outline application had been approved in January 2017, along with a condition requesting a plan to provide affordable houses as part of the development.  It was added that the affordable housing would meet the Wales Development Quality Requirement standard (DQR standards), varying from three person 2-bedroom houses to seven person 4-bedroom houses, scattered throughout the development. It was noted that the application site was located within an established residential area and within the Caernarfon development boundary as included in the Gwynedd Unitary Development Plan (GUDP).

The main considerations of this application was the acceptability of reserved matters under the previous outline application involving the external appearances of the houses, landscaping, plan and scale. It was explained that the principle of locating houses on this particular site had already been accepted and established given outline application no. C16/0773/14/AM. It was highlighted that the details submitted with this application showed that there would be a variety of different materials used for the external appearances of the houses, which reflected the appearances and finishes of nearby houses. It was not considered that the development would create structures that were inconsistent with the local streetscape.

In the context of general and residential amenities, it was noted that residential dwellings had been located to the north, south and west of the site but there would be no unacceptable direct overlooking into these houses. The objections submitted by local residents were received, but it was not considered that locating up to 45 houses would create an unacceptable impact for residential or general amenities of nearby residents on the grounds of creating disturbance, loss of privacy, loss of light and creating dominating structures and, therefore, the proposal was acceptable on the grounds of the requirements of Policy PCYFF 2 and PCYFF 3 of the Local Development Plan.

As part of the application, an Affordable Housing Statement was submitted with as a way of meeting the requirements of condition number 3 of the outline application relating to submitting details regarding the provision of affordable housing as part of the development. It was considered that the information in the report satisfied the needs of condition 3 of the permission regarding the numbers, type, tenure and location of the affordable housing permission.

b)      It was proposed and seconded to approve the application.

c)       In response to a question regarding the observations of the Town Council, that 'they supported the development on the condition that the 23 affordable housing would not be changed halfway through the plan'. It was noted that the application had already received permission and that these matters were irrelevant to the discussion. Nevertheless, it was added that should the application change, this would need to deal with at the time.

ch)     In response to an observation regarding the need for bungalows for the elderly, it was noted that the community's aspirations had been considered and that the plan for mixed dwellings was to be welcomed. It was understood that it was not possible to respond to each element, but that other needs had been prioritised.

d)      In response to a question regarding the capacity of the catchment area of Ysgol yr Hendre and concern about the support services, particularly education, it was noted confirmation of available capacity at the school had been received at the time of assessing the original application.

          RESOLVED to approve the reserved matters application, and release conditions number 3, 5 and 11 of the outline permission, with the condition:

In accordance with the details and plans submitted with the application.