Agenda item

Having declared an interest, Councillor Rupert Frost left the meeting during consideration of the following item.

DA/2019/1000 DAVENTRY WEST – Construction of 140 dwellings and associated infrastructure including vehicular access from the A425, provision of public open space and green infrastructure including Leap, demolition of Drayton Lodge and associated outbuildings and provision of drainage infrastructure – Land at Drayton Lodge, Staverton Road, Daventry

The Major Projects Officer outlined the application. The proposal was for 140 dwellings along with associated infrastructure and landscaping. Access to the site would be provide via a separate access from the A425, and the site would benefit from 25% affordable housing.

The application forms part of the Daventry SW Sustainable Urban Extension.  An outline application for up to 1,100 dwellings and associated infrastructure came to planning committee in December 2020 (application reference DA/2019/0750).  Members resolved to grant planning permission for this scheme and delegated authority was given to negotiate the S106 and finalise the conditions.  The scheme is referred to as the Malabar site.  A two form entry primary school will be provided on the adjacent Malabar site within the local centre. The Bellway application will pay a contribution towards the primary school. 

It is proposed that each property will have an electric vehicle charging point installed where possible.

On balance, officer’s recommended that permission be granted subject to conditions and the completion of a section 106 legal agreement.

Karen Tweedale spoke on behalf of the Daventry Town Council and Katherine Else, the agent, addressed the Committee.

Councillor Wendy Randall expressed concerns regarding parking on the proposed development. Narrow roads would likely lead to parking on pavements. The children’s play area was too isolated, and there were concerns regarding bus routes and cars speeding along the roads near the site.

The Major Projects Officer advised that 271 parking spaces were to be provided, along with 21 visitor spaces. This met highways standards and Highways had raised no objections.

Concerns regarding the location of the play area were noted. The site however would be overlooked by four properties within the Bellway scheme and other properties which are part of the wider scheme.  There are also footpaths linking to the open space.

Issues regarding the bus routes would be discussed with colleagues later in the process.

Councillor Peter Matten considered that the proposed number of parking spaces to be provided was reasonable and proposed that officers advice to approve the application be accepted. The proposition was seconded by Councillor Daniel Cribbin, who was very pleased to see the inclusion of electric vehicle charging points in many properties.

Councillor Rosie Humphreys was disappointed with the design of the scheme which was considered unimaginative. The layout of affordable dwellings was not ideal and was not spread evenly across the site. In response, the Major Projects Officer advised that ideally the farm buildings would have been retained but they were not protected and the retention of them would have influenced the viability of the scheme. The layout of the affordable dwellings was in accordance with policy and should be considered as part of the wider allocation of over one thousand houses.

Councillor Rosie Humphreys raised the issue of the lower levels of affordable housing allocation on the Malabar site. The Council’s Legal Adviser noted that were the application to be passed by the Committee, the application would be delegated to officers to negotiate the finer details. It was often the situation that developments with high infrastructure costs at the beginning of the project, would require the provision of some elements to be delayed.

In response to a question from Councillor Wendy Randall, the Major Projects Officer advised that the existing footpaths in the area would be linked into the new development. The Section 106 agreement was still under negotiation with issues to be finalised including healthcare, education contributions and open spaces. Any outstanding issues such as the footbridge would be discussed and finalised. If no agreement can be reached, the application would be referred back to Committee for consideration.

The proposition to approve the application subject to conditions and a Section 106 agreement was put to the meeting and declared carried with four voting in favour and two against.

RESOLVED:

That the application be approved as set out in the report.

Councillor Rupert Frost returned to the meeting.