Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutions.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Jason Baker, Mike Best, Jenny Kenton, Oliver Patrick and Jeny Snell.

It was noted that Councillors Jason Baker and Mike Best were in attendance online via Teams.

To approve the minutes from the previous meeting.

Resolved that the minutes of the Planning Committee - South held on Tuesday 28 November 2023 be confirmed as a correct record.

To receive and note any declarations of interests in respect of any matters included on the agenda for consideration at this meeting.

(The other registrable interests of Councillors of Somerset Council, arising from membership of City, Town or Parish Councils and other Local Authorities will automatically be recorded in the minutes: City, Town & Parish Twin Hatters - Somerset Councillors 2023 )

There were no declarations of interest.

The Chair to advise the Committee of any items on which members of the public have requested to speak and advise those members of the public present of the details of the Council’s public participation scheme.

For those members of the public who have submitted any questions or statements, please note, a three minute time limit applies to each speaker.

Requests to speak at the meeting at Public Question Time must be made to the Monitoring Officer in writing or by email to democraticservicesteam@somerset.gov.uk by 5pm on Wednesday 13 December 2023.

There were no questions from members of the public.

To consider an outline planning application for up to 100 dwellings, associated open space and infrastructure with all matters reserved except access.

RESOLVED:

That planning application 21/00311/OUT for up to 100 dwellings, associated open space and infrastructure with all matters reserved except access at Land To The North Of Somerton Road, Adj The White Bungalow, Somerton Road, Langport, Somerset be APPROVED, subject to the prior completion of a section 106 agreement to include a cascade mechanism regarding the affordable housing and the imposition of conditions as per the officer recommendation as detailed in the agenda report.

(voting: unanimous)

The Planning Officer presented the application as detailed in the agenda report, and with the aid of a Powerpoint presentation highlighted key elements of the proposal including:

·       A reminder that this was an outline application with all matters reserved except access. 

·       An indicative masterplan

·       It was noted the Open Spaces Officer had indicated that the open play space would be better sited in the centre of the proposed development rather than in the location shown on the indicative masterplan, and the exact location of the play space would be addressed at the Reserved Matters stage.

·       Details of the proposed access to which Highways had not raised an objection.

·       The proposal was within the direction of growth in the Local Plan.

·       There was approximately a 250m distance kept between the proposed development and Wearne – a distance considered acceptable to prevent coalescence.

·       The key considerations – principle of development and highway access.

The application was recommended for approval subject to planning obligations and conditions as set out in the agenda report.

Two members of the public addressed the committee in objection to the application. Some of their points included:

·       New housing in the area had already grossly exceeded figures in the Local Plan, and there is a lot of local opposition to this development.

·       Resources and facilities in the area are over-stretched.

·       A property ‘The Quackery’ was only 50m away which will be coalescence.

·       Development should be on brownfield land nearer to employment rather than on this productive agricultural land.

·       Concern about lack of notice for this application and meeting to local councils.

·       Not convinced there is a need for dense development in rural area. More harm than benefit.

·       Concern about flooding as believe there is a watercourse nearby on the eastern edge of the site.

·       Concerns also about traffic and transport.

A supporter spoke on behalf of the housing provider, Abri. She noted they had looked to obtain the site to build homes, and she noted there was a need for affordable homes in the area and this proposal would help towards that delivery. The proposal was for a variety of homes including some smaller homes and bungalows and there would also be a mix of different tenures.

A spokesperson for Huish Episcopi Parish Council then addressed the committee and some of his points included:

·       Question the need at this time to turn productive land into housing.

·        Housing already delivered in the area was well above the figure stated in the Local Plan

·        There are very few local work opportunities together with no added infrastructure improvements.

·        Reference to other elements in the Local Plan such as delivery of employment land.

·        Reference to previous Planning Inspector comments about Wearne and coalescence.

A spokesperson for the neighbouring Parish Council of High Ham also addressed the committee about local traffic and HGV routes. He referred to recent traffic flow data and provided members with details of vehicle movement figures on week days and at weekends for Picts Hill which was a short distance  ...  view the full minutes text for item 56.

To consider an application for up to 100 dwellings with associated works including access, public open space and landscaping.

RESOLVED:

That planning application 21/01035/OUT for up to 100 dwellings with associated works including, access, public open space and landscaping at Land OS 6925, Coat Road, Martock, Somerset be DEFERRED for further information regarding flooding matters and the presence of an officer from the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) to be present at the next possible Planning South Committee meeting.

(voting: unanimous)

The Planning Officer presented the application as detailed in the agenda report, and with the aid of a Powerpoint presentation highlighted key elements of the proposal including:

·       An indicative layout with proposed development to the east of the site, and with open space and planting to the west.

·       The Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) had not objected to the proposal – noted that surface water was indicated possibly to cause flooding further west of the site.

·       Proposed works to connect off road path into Martock.

·       The proposed woodland area was identified as an area of high landscape sensitivity.

·       Martock Neighbourhood Plan acknowledges site acceptable for development.

·       Reference to housing figures in the Local Plan – acknowledgement that Martock already above the number in the Plan, however the figures in the Local Plan were not a maximum.

·       The key considerations were the principle of development and highway safety.

·       Highways were content with the proposal subject to Section 106 obligations and conditions.

·       The phosphates solution included a package treatment plant and also phosphates credits which had been purchased from the scheme agreed by the Council.

The application was recommended for approval subject to planning obligations and conditions as set out in the agenda report.

Five members of the public addressed the committee in objection to the application. Some images had been submitted which were included in the officer presentation, and some of their points raised included:

·       Opposed this in 2021 as it went against settlement policy. Original application proposed 55 houses. Have not met with the developers.

·       When the application was originally submitted there was a five year land supply.

·       Reference to local upgrades by Wessex Water. Would like to see proposal for update to phosphate policy of the Council.

·       Since application submitted, 140 houses have been built in the village which has altered the traffic.

·       There are still a number of issues to be addressed.

·       The rhyne that separates the site from the neighbouring property to the west floods. Flooding impacts the structural integrity of that property.

·       Recent flooding made Coat Road impassable to ordinary vehicles, and the site where the package treatment plant is proposed to be also floods.

·       A package treatment plant and phosphates credits were proposed but no details seem to be available on the public website.

·       The green gap between Coat and Martock is a high landscape sensitivity area.

·       Refence to the green gap policy in the Local Plan and that it should be protected.

·       What are the plans for the green area in the middle of the ‘U’ shape application area as there is no road access to that site?

·       This is not the right number of dwellings at the right time.

·       Traffic figures have been based on old data of 2018 and doesn’t include the impact of the Barratt development of 120 houses to the South of Coat Road.

·       Already difficult to access local NHS services.

·       No identified need for these houses in Martock at the moment.

A spokesperson for Martock Parish Council endorsed the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 57.

To consider an outline application for mixed development comprising residential development of up to 295 dwellings, provision of a floodlit full size football pitch, unlit full size training pitch and community sports pitch with associated multi use clubhouse, spectator facilities and vehicular parking area; hub for local neighbourhood facilities and other community uses, public open space, landscaping, drainage and other facilities; associated vehicular and pedestrian accesses, land regrading, associated infrastructure and engineering works.

This item had been withdrawn from the agenda prior to the meeting.

This item had been withdrawn from the agenda prior to the meeting.

Members noted the planning appeal decisions for the Planning South area.