Agenda item

Construction of 8 new dwellinghouses that includes 2 affordable dwellings along with an internal access road and internal pedestrian footway.

 

LOCAL MEMBER:  Councillor Peter Read

 

Link to relevant background documents

 

Erect eight new houses to include two affordable dwellings together with forming an internal access road and pedestrian route.

 

(a)       The Development Control Manager elaborated on the background of the application and noted that the application had previously been submitted to the Planning Committee on 11 January 2016, 22 February 2016 and had been deferred at the meeting held on 14 March 2016 in order to receive the observations of the Joint Planning Policy Unit on the Community and Linguistic Statement.

 

It was noted that the application had been amended since its original submission to be a full application to erect eight houses instead of nine within the development boundary of Abererch, which had been designated within the Gwynedd Unitary Development Plan for new housing for the general market. It was added that as a result of the reduction in the number of proposed houses, the number of affordable houses being offered had been reduced from three to two.

 

It was considered that the application in its amended form was acceptable for the site, and would make suitable use of the land (based on density).

 

It was reported that observations had been received from the Joint Planning Policy Unit on the Community and Linguistic Statement, and as a result of these observations it was considered that the proposal was acceptable and that it would not have an impact on the Welsh language.

 

          The development complied with the GUDP for the reasons noted in the report.

 

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

 

          During the ensuing discussion, the following main observations were noted:

 

·         The local member's concern in relation to the layout of the houses;

·         The Joint Planning Policy Unit noted in its observations that the percentage of affordable houses offered, namely 25%, was lower than the indicative percentage of 35% noted in the GUDP;

·         Concern that applications with fewer affordable houses that the indicative percentage were being approved;

·         A condition should be imposed that the work on the road was completed before the houses could be occupied;

·         The location of the site was within the development boundary;

·         There was local support;

·         The plans had been amended in response to concerns.

 

(c)     In response to the above observations, the officers noted:-

·         That the application in its amended form responded to concerns in relation to the setting of the houses and the impact on nearby amenities;

·         Officers were of the view that the applicant had reduced the number of houses from nine to eight in response to concerns in relation to the setting of the houses and that the percentage of affordable houses being offered was reasonable. It was noted that the location and nature of the houses would be likely to regulate their affordability and that they would  appeal to the local population;

·         The inclusion of three affordable houses in the proposal equated to 40% of the development and considering that the Council had asked the applicant to amend the plan, that it was acceptable;

·         It was recommended to place a condition in relation to the completion of the access road.

 

          RESOLVED to delegate powers to the Senior Planning Manager to approve the application subject to signing a 106 agreement to bind two of the units for affordable housing.

 

          Conditions:

1.     Commence within five years.

2.     In accordance with amended plans.

3.     Agree on the finish of the external walls and the roofs of the houses.

4.     Removal of permitted development rights for extensions and curtilage buildings for the two affordable units.

5.     Public footpath No. 7 Llannor, which is affected by this development must be diverted under Section 257 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 before any work is commenced on the site.

6.     Ground floor level to be at least 4.6m AOD.

7.     Submitting and approval of a surface water disposal plan.

8.     Landscaping.

9.     Boundary wall / hedge / fence with the estate road not to be higher than 1 metre.

10.   Complete the estate road with compacted and fixed stabilising rocks and the completion of a surface water system.

11.   Complete roads and pavements for the foundation course and ensure that lights are working before houses are occupied.

12.   Installation of kerbs on sides of the estate road, surfacing of carriageway and footway and lighting before the last dwelling on the estate is occupied.

13.   Separate disposal of surface and foul water from the site

14.   No surface water to connect directly or indirectly with the public sewer system.

15.  No land drainage discharge to be allowed to connect directly or indirectly with the public sewer system.