Agenda item

Variation of condition 2 of planning permission  C20/0485/18/AC (amendment to planning permission ref. C17/0438/18/LL for residential development)  to allow a further three years for the approval of reserved matters

 

LOCAL MEMBER: Councillor Elfed Williams

 

Link to relevant background documents

RESOLVED: To approve the application subject to the following conditions:

1.         Commencement of the work.

2.         Submitting reserved matters.

3.         Materials and finishes (including natural slate for the roofs).

4.         Access and parking.

5.         Landscaping.

6.         Removal of permitted development rights for the affordable houses.

7.         Welsh Water conditions relating to safeguarding the sewers.

8.         Conditions of Natural Resources Wales regarding land and surface water draining.

9.         Update the conditions regarding mitigation measures of the ecological assessment.

10.       Agree on details regarding Welsh names for the development together with advertising signage informing and promoting the development

11.       Restrict the use to C3 use class residential dwellings

 

Notes: Need to submit a sustainable drainage system application to be agreed with the Council.

 

Vary condition 2 of planning permission C20/0485/18/AC (amendment to planning permission number C17/0438/18/LL for a residential development) to allow a further three years for the approval of reserved matters.

 

a)    The Development Control Team Leader highlighted that this was a full application to vary condition 2 of a previous planning permission to extend the time given to submit a reserved matters application on the original outline permission in 2009. It was explained that the application did not relate to the reserved matters.

 

It was reported that the proposal continued to involve developing the site for 27 houses which included 5 affordable houses for general local need (a mixture of social and intermediate houses), creating a new entrance as well as providing an amenity space. It was reiterated that the original application was subject to the 106 legal agreement to provide the element of affordable housing and this aspect would not need to be updated as its content continued to be valid. It was reiterated that the principle of developing the site for a residential development had already been accepted under the original outline application in 2009, as well as follow-up applications approved to extend the period of 3 years every time and the latest permission continued on the site and established the principle of this latest application. The importance of considering, whether the planning situation or circumstances had changed since the previous applications was outlined. 

 

In the context of the application site, it was explained that the field was a 0.8 hectare agricultural field which was served by the agricultural entrance from the class 3 county road, and since the last planning permission, the application had been formally included within the World Heritage Site. It was noted that the site continued to be within the Deiniolen development boundary and had been designated for housing; it contributed towards the indicative supply level for the village and the information submitted as part of the application. A Housing Mix Statement was submitted which confirmed that the proposed housing mix addressed the need identified within the Gwynedd Housing Need Assessment, as well as an assessment for the village of Deiniolen. It was explained that the western side of the site had been earmarked for biodiversity enhancement space and to reduce surface water run-off to justify lower than usual density for this site.

 

Attention was drawn to the fact that the applicant had noted that it was not possible to develop the site within the period of the current permission, and that being as a result of Covid and the economic climate. It was highlighted that there was no long-term barrier that would prevent the development from moving forward, and therefore, accepting the application would extend the planning permission less than a year after the final date of the LDP and that extending the period was therefore reasonable.

 

The Members were reminded that a brief plan of the proposed site had been included with the application and the design and layout of the houses would receive detailed attention during an application for reserved matters.

 

It was reported that the Transportation Unit, Natural Resources Wales, Welsh Water and the Council's Environment and Water Unit had no objection to the proposal subject to appropriate conditions and attention was drawn to the additional information submitted as part of the application on biodiversity matters offering other acceptable improvements and mitigation measures.

 

In the context of the Welsh language matters, it was considered that the possibility that a small percentage of prospective occupants of the open market houses were non-Welsh speakers, but the proposal would be subject to a condition to ensure that the houses were used as sole residence and that it would not be possible to use them as a second home or a holiday unit without further planning permission. In addition, it was noted that awareness could be raised of the language by carrying out mitigation measures, and it was anticipated that the majority of the children that would derive from the development would go to local schools where there was emphasis on learning through the medium of Welsh.

 

It was considered that the proposal was acceptable and continued to comply with the requirements of relevant local and national policies. The officers recommended to approve the application with the relevant conditions.

 

b)  Taking advantage of the right to speak, the Local Member made the following observations;

·       94 people were on the social housing list. Who were they? How local were they?

·       The intention was to erect 27 houses here. How many would be for local people?

·       ⁠The application went back over 10 years - nothing had happened.

·       The local opinion had not changed. Object.

·       Water and Environment Context - due to the size and nature of the development, an application would have to be submitted to the SAB for approval. Who was SAB?

·       Who would monitor the work, who would ensure that the correct measures were being followed?

 

c)   In response to the comments, the Planning Manager noted that SAB was the 'Sustainable Drainage Body' – a process which is a separate but similar process to a building control arrangement. She reiterated that the monitoring work would be done by the Planning Department officers, and although resources were scarce, enforcement staff would be able to monitor the sites.

 

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

 

e)  During the ensuing discussion, the following observations were made by members:

 

·       The proposal was within the development boundary - this was an application for a time extension

·       It was about time to commence construction

 

·       An over-development of social housing

 

RESOLVED: To approve the application subject to the following conditions:

1.            Commencement of the work.

2.            Submitting reserved matters.

3.            Materials and finishes (including natural slate for the roofs).

4.            Access and parking.

5.            Landscaping.

6.            Removal of permitted development rights for the affordable houses.

7.            Welsh Water conditions relating to safeguarding the sewers.

8.            Conditions of Natural Resources Wales regarding land and surface water draining.

9.            Update the conditions regarding mitigation measures of the ecological assessment.

10.          Agree on details regarding Welsh names for the development together with advertising signage informing and promoting the development

11.         Restrict the use to C3 use class residential dwellings

 

Notes: Need to submit a sustainable drainage system application to be agreed with the Council.