Issue - meetings

Decision

Approved

Officer’s Report

The DM introduced the Officers report and recommendation for approval subject to conditions. He established the sites location and context with its local setting as referenced in pages 41 and 42 of the report pack. The DM referenced P.35 – p.36 and confirmed that reserve matters for a not entirely dissimilar proposal had been approved with planning conditions discharged and development commenced. Officers were of the opinion that the extant conditions were material planning considerations that should attract significant weight in decision making. Further, the extant permissions also include a legal agreement which included a financial contribution towards off-site affordable housing circa £55,000 as well as other contributions. The proposed S106 contributions were set out in pages 45 and 46 of the report.

Members were provided visuals of the previously approved site plan PO/16/1725 for context and to help identify the differences between the proposed and approved schemes. The DM advised that the main change was that the block of flats would be replaced with 10 single storey bungalows, further the internal layout of Sandpiper House had been changed with respect of the numbers of flats. The DM detailed the proposed elevations inclusive of CGI images, cross sections of the schemes and the relative levels of the land.

Officers considered that the proposal broadly complied with policy, and in circumstances where there had been a departure, Officers concluded that the existence of the implemented permission was a material consideration in which should be given significant. Therefore, the main issues for consideration were that of the effect on Flood Risk and Effect on Ecology.

 Since the drafting of the report a response had been received from the Council’s Ecology Officer raising no objection to the development on ecological grounds, however recommended the following three conditions; one relating to lighting design, another relating to a construction and environmental management plan, and lastly to secure the ecological enhancements set out in the applicant’s ecological appraisal. With the inclusions of such conditions Officers consider the proposal would accord with NNDC Core Strategy Policy EN9.

With respect of matters of Flood Risk, the applicant’s drainage engineers had reviewed the lead local authority comments and had subsequently provided an updated flood risk assessment and drainage strategy revision P02 (dated 14^th July) as well as the LLFA response. A response had not been received by the lead local flood authority, as they were only re-consulted 3 days prior. For context, the DM advised that a similar drainage scheme for the site had been approved by the Flood Authority in July 2020, Officers were therefore confident that matters could be resolved. The recommendation had been slightly amended to request delegated approval to the Assistant Director for planning subject to satisfactory resolution of surface water matters, securing S106 obligations to the value of £97,265 for the purposes set out in section 8 of the Officer’s report, as well as the imposition of conditions including any considered necessary by the Assistant Director.  Further, Officers were seeking to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27