Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were submitted from Councillors Philip Houldsworth and Rachelle Shepherd-DuBey.

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting held on 13 December 2017

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 13 December 2017 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

There are a number of references to the Members' Update within these minutes.  The Members' Update was circulated to all present prior to the meeting.  It also contains details of properties to be visited prior to the next Planning Meeting.  A copy is attached.

To receive any declaration of interest

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider any recommendations to defer applications from the schedule and to note any applications that may have been withdrawn.

There were no items withdrawn or deferred.

Recommendation: Conditional Approval

Proposal:  Full application for the construction of a 2.3 KM Arborfield Cross Relief Road (including shared use pathway) linking A327 Reading Road in the north and A327 Eversley Road in the south east.  The proposal includes two new roundabout junctions link to the existing road network along the A327, a new staggered priority junction at Swallowfield Road and a new shared-use (non-motorised user) bridge where Arborfield Footpath 17 intersects the proposed relief road.

Applicant:  Wokingham Borough Council C/O WSP

The Committee received and reviewed a report about this application, set out in Agenda pages 11 to 63.

Sam Goss, Wokingham Borough Council, applicant spoke in favour of the application.  He highlighted that the application would assist the delivery of the Council’s Core Strategy.

David Horton, resident, spoke in objection to the application.  He indicated that residents of Arborfield Court had concerns regarding noise as the road would run close to their homes.  Residents wanted to ensure that the best sound screening materials and low noise road surfaces were used.  Mr Horton questioned whether the speed limit could be reduced from 50mph to 40mph as it was felt that 50mph was overly high if trying to cross at the staggered junction.  He also raised concerns regarding security as the road ran directly along the border of several gardens.  A secure barrier was requested.  Mr Horton also asked that should the quality of the water supply of Arborfield Court be impacted by the construction that the applicant would undertake to dig a new well or attach the properties to the main water supply.

Gary Cowan, Ward Member spoke in favour of the application and raised the possibility of the use of bunds.  He commented that existing trees should only be removed as a last resort.  He emphasised that the use of low noise road surface materials was important and that the water supply of Arborfield Court should be monitored to ensure that it was not negatively impacted.

In response to Members’ questions regarding noise, Officers clarified that there would be an acoustic fence by Arborfield Court.  A proposed condition required that further details of the acoustic barrier be submitted to the Local Planning Authority prior to construction and approved in writing.  In addition the Committee was informed that the low noise road surface was more effective at higher speeds.  Bunds had been considered earlier in the application process but detailed noise modelling had suggested that bunding would have little impact on noise reduction.

With regards to the speed limit, the Service Manager, Highways Development Management indicated that conversations had been had with Thames Valley Police and that 50mph had been considered more appropriate.  A higher speed limit on the ACRR, as proposed, resulted in a more attractive route to through traffic which would assist in directing more cars away from the Arborfield Cross.  In response to a Member question, the Service Manager, Highways and Development Management explained the proposed advantages for the use of a staggered junction with Swallowfield Road as opposed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 70.

Recommendation:  Conditional Approval subject to legal agreements

Proposal:  Full application for the erection of 1no dwelling house.

Applicant:  Mr R Dennis

The Committee received and reviewed a report about this application, set out in Agenda pages 65 to 85.

The Committee were advised that the Members’ Update included: 

·         An amended recommendation;

·         Update to condition 6 regarding protection of trees and update to condition 13 regarding the Landscape and Ecological Maintenance Plan.

In response to a Member question Officers clarified that the property would be CIL liable.

RESOLVED:  That application 173097 be approved subject to the conditions set out in Agenda pages 67 to 71, amended conditions 6 and 13 as detailed in the Members’ update and the completion of a S106 which links a number of ancillary applications to the main dwelling and ensure that any extant permissions that conflict with this application are not implemented.