Agenda, decisions and minutes

Members are asked to declare any interest and the nature of that interest which they may have in any of the items under consideration at this meeting.

None advised.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 9 May 2022.

That the Minutes of the Strategic Planning Committee of the 9 May 2022 be approved and signed as a correct record.

To receive communications from the Chair.

The Chair welcomed new members to the Strategic Planning Committee and confirmed the additional monthly dates to be included in the municipal calendar as: 12 September 2022, 14 November 2022, 23 January 2023 and 20 March 2023.

Approved subject to conditions in the report and additional requirements set out in the minutes.

63.            WNS/2022/0292/MAR Phase 1 and PART Phase 1B Norwood Farm, Land East of Sandy Lane Harpole

For the Reserved Matters application (appearance, landscaping, layout and scale) relating to Phase 1 and PART Phase 1B (as shown on Indicative Phasing Plan 24556 RG-M-80 Rev G dated 20.10.20) for the provision of 349 dwellings, in accordance with planning permission ref S/2016/1324/EIA (The outline application was accompanied by an Environmental Statement). The area was allocated in the Local Plan as policy area N9A. The land was currently predominantly used for arable farming, but also for a plant nursery and scrapyard. Outline planning permission for the site had been approved in June 2020.

The Principal Planning Officer outlined the information in the report and updated the committee with regard to the comments received from Highways, as follows:

·         Approved access plans for Sandy Lane relief road and the new access.

·         Proposed layout plan showed 349 dwellings, including access to Berry Wood road Local Equipped Area of Play (LEAP) and Sustainable Urban Drainage (SUDS) included 52 affordable dwellings within the agreed percentage in the Section 106 agreement

·         Another development phase would cover the Sandy Lane relief road.

·         Dwellings were laid out, in 3 main areas, the primary street, Sandy Lane frontage and side streets with an urban core area, with two key gateway buildings to mark the important junction and viewpoints

·         The LEAP would include 9 pieces of play equipment, include bench litter bins and enclosed in metal hooped topped fence

The Principal Planning Officer provided verbal updates in relation to issues that had been outstanding at the time of writing the report:

·         Paragraph 8.6 - referred to brick boundary enclosures. An acceptable alternative had been agreed and dwarf brick wall would be provided with a slatted fence.

·         Paragraph 8.13 - house design - acceptable changes made to the siting of chimneys.

·         Paragraph 8.2.9 – the issue of visitor parking conflicting with the access to businesses had been addressed.

·         Paragraph 8.30 - parking, awaiting Highways comments regarding the separation of the frontage parking bays at 129-131.

·         Paragraph 8.3.5 – additional planting for bins and bike store.

·         Paragraph 8.37 - the number of footpath connections had now been reduced to limit the number of breaks in the existing hedge.

·         Paragraph 8.44 - the residential amenity separation distance had been amended to meet the 18m minimum standard set out in the Design Guide, for plots 137-138.

In response to Members’ enquiries, the Principal Planning Officer advised that the build of the LEAP would be linked to the number of occupations, the S.106 agreement included a timetable for the development. The Planning Solicitor advised Members that the play areas would be provided at 50% of the occupation of the site.

The percentage of affordable homes that would be provided was 15% which had been determined as viable in this phase.  This could increase to 17.5% in later phases, as the Section 106 agreement contained a clause to ensure this was reviewed after 800 units had been delivered.

No provision  ...  view the full minutes text for item 63.

Approved subject to conditions.

64.            C/2019/0750/1 Land at Malabar Farm, Staverton Road, Daventry

For the Outline application (all matters reserved except principal means of access to highways) for a mixed use development including up to 1100 dwellings, a 2 form entry primary school, local centre (A1, A2, A3, A4, A5 & D1/D2 including C2/C3 facilities, associated landscaping and demolition works.  Discharge of condition 8 - Design Code.

The Major Projects Officer outlined the information in the report to Committee which sought to discharge condition 8 of the outline planning permission for the development by agreeing the Design Code. The Committee were also updated with regards to the late consultation responses received.

The Design Code needed to be read in conjunction with Design and Access Statement documents and the Master Plan. The Design Code provided a clear vision and an appraisal of the area. Four neighbourhood character areas were proposed: Town, Core, District and Edge and these would be linked to key areas of open space.

In response to Members’ enquiries, the Major Projects Officer advised that:

The ownership of the footbridge over the A45 (known locally as the curly wurly bridge) would be retained by West Northants Council (WNC) as an asset and WNC would be responsible for maintenance. Highways would provide signage to recommend cyclists ‘dismount’ when using the bridge. Provision had been made for pedestrian and cycle routes across the site.

Comments from the Highway Authority had been received and the recommendation asked for delegation for the details of the application to be approved, subject to final comments from the statutory consultees. There would be a pedestrian crossing installed over the A45. Noise mitigation and traffic management requirements would be given consideration at each reserved matters application. The next stage would be for the developer to submit reserved matters applications. The dwellings would be set back from the A45 and it was understood that there would be speed reductions introduced on this part of the A45.  

Craig Wall, the agent addressed the Committee and referred to the network of highways, environmental factors, urban design, healthy movement and play areas.

In response to Members enquiries, the Agent advised that the anticipated percentage of affordable homes that would be provided on the site was 25%.

In reaching its decision, the Committee considered the officer’s report and presentation, the address of the public speaker and the written updates.

Councillor David James proposed the application be approved, this was seconded by Councillor Ken Pritchard and being put to the meeting was declared carried unanimous.

RESOLVED:

To delegate to the Head of Development Management to approve the details submitted pursuant to Condition 8 (Design Code) subject to receiving final comments from consultees and the design code being updated as necessary.

The Chairman to advise whether they have agreed to any items of urgent business being admitted to the agenda.

There were no items of Urgent Business.