Issue - meetings

Recommendation: Conditional approval subject to legal agreement.

Proposal: Full application for the proposed erection of 6no. dwellings, with associated landscaping and access.

Applicant: Mr R Mellett.

The Committee considered a report about this application, set out in agenda pages 89 to 120.

The Committee were advised that the Supplementary Planning Agenda included amendments to conditions 2, 15, and 16.

Pierre Dowsett, on behalf of the applicant, spoke in support of the application. Pierre stated that this application represented a resubmission of an application currently at appeal, whilst the material considerations surrounding the weight of planning considerations no longer had the same weight of determination. Pierre stated that the development was located within a sustainable location, whilst 2 units would be provided as on-site affordable housing, with electric vehicle charging points supplied at each unit. Pierre praised officers for their quick action in considering the new planning balance, and Pierre asked that the Committee support the officer recommendation of approval.

Jim Frewin, Ward Member, spoke in objection to the application. Jim stated that he had been asked by Shinfield Parish Council to call-in this application, who were unhappy with the planning approach taken by the Council. Jim felt that this was the fourth application for this site, and was an example of how developers repeatedly submitted application with the knowledge that WBC would eventually approve it. Jim stated that Parish Councillors were questioning the point of a neighbourhood plan if the policies therein were ignored by WBC. Jim added that the planning application did not comply with the parking standards policy 5 of the neighbourhood plan, nor did it meet the drainage policy 8 or the tree retention policy 6. Jim stated that the site was actually within the countryside, and there were significant concerns with regards to construction traffic and access. Jim stated that there was not a lot of open green space in Shinfield, and Shinfield had already delivered a number of houses towards WBC’s housing stock. Jim asked that officers work to ensure that applications complied with locally adopted neighbourhood plans, and added that Shinfield Parish Council requested that officers to find ways for the application to comply with the polices within the neighbourhood plan.

David Cornish sought clarification from officers with regards to some of the concerns raised by Jim Frewin. Brian Conlon, Operational Lead – Development Management, stated that that the Shinfield Neighbourhood Plan was considered within the standard policy hierarchy, whereby local policy such as this plan would be the starting point for considerations. Part of the NPPF had been engaged as the Borough could no longer demonstrate a five-year housing land supply, which meant that the local planning authority now had to consider whether this application would have such adverse impacts which would outweigh any benefits. The officer’s detailed assessment of the proposal concluded that the less than desirable impacts of this development were not considered to significantly outweigh the benefits of the scheme. Brian added that the Local Plan remained valid and was used as a starting point for planning  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44