Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutions.

Apologies were received from Councillor Tony Robbins. Councillor Ros Wyke was his substitute.

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 none.

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.

We are now live webcasting most of our committee meetings and you are welcome to view and listen to the discussion. The link to each webcast will be available on the meeting webpage, please see details under ‘click here to join online meeting’.

Requests to speak at the meeting under Public Question Time must be made to democraticserviceseast@somerset.gov.uk  by 5pm on the Wednesday prior to the meeting.  For those wishing to speak on an application, requests must be made by 5pm on the Thursday prior to the meeting.

There were none.

To consider an Application for Outline Planning Permission for the erection of up to 1,700 dwellings (Use Class C3), two care homes (Use Class C3), 6.7 hectares of employment land (Use Classes E, B2 and B8), a mixed use local centre for primary school (Use Class F1), cafes/restaurant and convenience store (Use Class E) and other supporting social and physical infrastructure (Use Classes F1, F2 and E), provision of greenspace and other supporting ancillary works. All matters (Access (within the site), Layout, Scale, Appearance, Landscaping) reserved except for four new vehicular site access points from the existing highway.

To be minded to refuse the planning application on grounds of lack of sustainability  and to defer the application for up to two months with Officers given delegated authority to draft the detailed reasons for refusal and to report back to Committee for further consideration. 

For: 7

Against: 5

Abstain: 1

The Committee were presented with the application with the aid of a PowerPoint presentation. The Planning Officer updated the Committee explaining that the application was to consider Outline Planning Permission for the erection of up to 1,700 dwellings (Use Class C3), two care homes (Use Class C3), 6.7 hectares of employment land (Use Classes E, B2 and B8), a mixed use local centre for primary school (Use Class F1), cafes/restaurant and convenience store (Use Class E) and other supporting social and physical infrastructure (Use Classes F1, F2 and E), provision of greenspace and other supporting ancillary works. All matters (Access (within the site), Layout, Scale, Appearance, Landscaping) reserved except for four new vehicular site access points from the existing highway.

Subject to:

·       the Secretary of State having notified the Council that they do not intend to issue a ‘call-in’ direction; and

·       National Highways having withdrawn their Holding Recommendation

The Officer Recommendation was that Planning Permission be granted for the reasons set out in the Officer Report subject to: • the recommended Conditions set out in the Officer Report and the prior completion of a s.106 Legal Agreement to secure the matters set out in the Officer Report.

There were various public speakers representing Friends of the River Frome, Stop SGC, CPRE Somerset and Frome Civic Society who spoke in objection to the application highlighting:

• Concerns that there was already an existing sewage problem with outflows discharging sewage into the river and the fact that another new development would make the situation worse.
• The playing field and play area were in Flood Zones 2 and 3 and flooding in general.
• The development conflicted with the adopted Development Plan and current National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)

Next Ken McCall spoke in objection and he pointed out that there were nearly 500 objections and that a development of this size would impact the environment and have social consequences for the town.

There were a further two members of the public who spoke next in support of the development, James Tizzard, from LVA and Neil Brant, from NBC who pointed out that the design and quality of this development were excellent and delivered the required core infrastructure locally to ensure it was delivered and it met the desperate housing need of the town.

They further highlighted that the development would help pay the £4 Million needed to solve the traffic problems at the A36 roundabouts of Beckington and White Row as well as other infrastructure works at the A361 Marston, Blatchbridge and Berkeley roundabouts, Gorehedge and The Butts

Next to speak were Councillors Steve Tanner, Richard Hammons and Jim Dowling from Selwood Parish Council, who objected to the application and mentioned the significant loss of farmland and the adverse effects on the landscape, the increased traffic and population which would lead to a squeeze on local services such as NHS dentists.

Then Frome West and East Town Councillors Michael Dunk and Shane Collins, also Somerset Councillors, also spoke in objection and highlighted:

• The extensive  ...  view the full minutes text for item 243.

To consider an application for the erection of a detached two storey self-build dwellinghouse and garage.

This agenda item was deferred to a future meeting of Planning Committee East due to time constraints.

This agenda item was deferred to a future meeting of Planning Committee East due to time constraints.

To consider an application for a single storey front, side and rear extension.

This agenda item was deferred to a future meeting of Planning Committee East due to time constraints.

This agenda item was deferred to a future meeting of Planning Committee East due to time constraints.

To consider the report of appeals decisions made by the Planning Inspectorate between 19 October 2024 and 15November 2024.

This agenda item was deferred to a future meeting of Planning Committee East due to time constraints.