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.

There were no declarations of interest.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 3 November 2022.

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 3 November 2022 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To receive communications from the Chair.

On behalf of the Committee, the Chair paid tribute to Paul Seckington, Head of Development Management and Enforcement, who was attending his final meeting of the Committee prior to leaving the Council later in December 2022.

The Committee thanked Paul for his long service, hard work and stewardship of the Planning service at both West Northamptonshire Council and its predecessor, South Northamptonshire Council, and wished him well in his future endeavours. 

The Chair made the following additional announcements:

1.  Members of the public were permitted to film, broadcast, and report on the meeting, subject to the efficient running of the meeting not being affected.

2.  Members of the public were requested not to call out during the Committee’s discussions on any item.

3.  There were no planned fire drills so in the event of an alarm sounding, evacuation instructions would be given by officers.

4.  That it be requested that any devices be switched off or onto silent mode.

Refused, reasons to be set out in the minutes.

The Committee considered application WNS/2022/0919/MAO comprising of an outline planning application for up to 46 dwellings and associated works with all matters reserved except for access at Land North of Town End Farm and West of Brackley Road, Croughton, for GR No.7 Ltd.

Michael Robson, the agent for the applicant, addressed the Committee in support of the application and provided an overview of the potential benefits of the development to the local area should the development receive approval.

It was proposed by Councillor Ken Pritchard and Seconded by Councillor Karen Cooper that application WNS/2022/0919/MAO be refused in accordance with the officer’s recommendation, in addition to the amended reasons for refusal set out in the written updates.

The motion was put to the vote with eight votes cast in favour of the proposal and none cast against, therefore the motion was carried.

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

Resolved

(1)  That application WNS/2022/0919/MAO be refused for the following reasons:

1.    The proposal fails to comply with the Council’s adopted Development Plan which seeks to direct new residential development to the most sustainable locations within the district. Specifically, the proposal is a market-led housing scheme located outside of the settlement confines and does not comply with any of the exception policies listed within the South Northamptonshire Local Plan Part 2 that offer support to development outside of the confines of settlements. The Council can demonstrate in excess of a five-year housing land supply and as such all relevant Development Plan policies are considered up to date and paragraph 11(d) of the NPPF does not apply. Having considered all relevant material considerations, including the relative sustainability of the settlement, the availability and accessibility of its services, facilities, those of adjoining urban centres and employment opportunities, the provision of affordable housing and outcome of recent relevant appeal decisions, it is concluded that the harm caused through this application’s conflict with the development plan exceeds any considerations that weigh in the application’s favour. Therefore, the proposal fails to comply with policy LH1 of the South Northamptonshire Local Plan Part 2 and policy R1 of the West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy.

2.    The proposal fails to comply with the Council’s adopted Development Plan which seeks to avoid the unacceptable loss of undeveloped land and open spaces of particular significance to the form and character of a settlement and requires new development to be compatible and integrate well with its surroundings and the distinctive local character of the area. The site, and particularly the built form within the scheme, will not relate well to the existing established residential areas of Croughton, nor its established built limits or the settlement confines boundary.  Instead, it results in an incongruous, intrusive and disconnected collection of dwellings in an open-countryside location, within a parcel of land that contributes positively to the appearance, character and setting of the settlement through its undeveloped, peaceful nature. Such development  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

Deferred for the purposes of a Committee site visit, reasons to be set out in the minutes.

The Head of Development Management and Enforcement explained that, in relation to application WNS/2021/2154/FUL, comments on the application had not yet been received from the Council’s Conservation Officer, therefore officers recommended that the application be deferred to the next meeting of the Committee to allow additional time for the Conservation Officer’s comments to be finalised and incorporated into the report.

Officers further recommended that a site visit be undertaken in relation to the application prior to consideration by the Committee.

It was proposed by Councillor Dermot Bambridge and seconded by Councillor Tony Bagot-Webb that application WNS/2021/2154/FUL be deferred to the next meeting of the Committee for the purposes of allowing additional time for the finalisation of the Conservation Officer’s comments, and to facilitate a Committee site visit be held on Tuesday 3 January 2023 to coincide with other site visits already planned.

The motion was put to the vote with 8 votes cast in favour of the proposal and none cast against, therefore the motion was carried.

Resolved

(1)  That application WNS/2021/2154/FUL be deferred to the next meeting of the committee to allow for the finalisation of the Conservation Officer’s comments.

(2)  That it be agreed to hold a site visit in respect of application WNS/2021/2154/FUL for Briary Cottage, 8 Lumber Lane, Paulerspury on Tuesday 3 January 2022.

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

There were no items of urgent business.