Agenda item

To consider an application for an Outline application with all matters reserved, except for access, for a mixed use development of up to 200 No. dwellings, employment land (Use Classes E & F), an internal spine road to facilitate a rail halt/station, public open space, drainage & associated infrastructure on land north of Taunton Road, Longforth Park, Wellington (Departure from the Local Plan)

Resolved:

That the Planning Application 43/23/0056 for a mixed use development of up to 200 No. dwellings, employment land (Use Classes E & F), an internal spine road to facilitate a rail halt/station, public open space, drainage & associated infrastructure on land be approved subject to:

 a) approval of the sHRA on receipt of a Reservation Notice confirming that

the required number of P-Credits have been reserved for the development;

and

b) completion of the S106 Agreement (Heads of Terms listed at Appendix 1);

and

c) the conditions listed at Appendix 2 of the agenda report.

Delegated to the Head of Planning.

For 9, Against 1

The Planning Officer introduced the application to the Committee with the assistance of a power point presentation. He provided the following updates and highlights to their written report:

·       There were a number of listed buildings around the site but no adverse impact on them.

·       An adjacent ecology field with a bat roost – this will be protected as the field has been made part of the public open space which was a change from the original plans.

·       Connections to the station car park had been created as a pedestrian/cycleway to avoid the bat habitat.

·       A number of comments had been made about the highway access. It was confirmed that discussions were to take place with the supermarket about the highway access option and that there were monies for highway amendments within the viability report and the S106 agreement includes a new railway station opening.

·       It was confirmed that there would be no more than 3 storeys for the dwellings and the application was subject to a phasing condition.

·       Station Square is to be developed as public open space adjacent to the station car park with Public Art to be installed to reflect the Wellington Monument.

·       It was noted that the station and car park were subject to a separate planning application, but the access and other parts of this application were integral to that application, especially the highways access, parking, links for pedestrian/cycleways and buses.

·       There was additional landscaping to be undertaken including a fence and bund to exclude public from the Ecology Field and bat roost, new trees and hedges to be planted.

The Committee were addressed by a local wildlife organisation, who raised concerns with the habitat for the bat roost. The trees in the area would not be suitable as, surrounded on 3 sides with the 3 storey buildings being proposed, the area would be affected by light pollution. There would be a lack of a suitable diet and impact from the proposed new railway station.

Other speakers commented as follows:

·       Main concern related to the highways access to the site and therefore this should be agreed before the development takes place to ensure safety.

·       This development was crucial as would support the proposed new railway station, elements would enhance that separate future application and the viability assessment included the facilitation of the station.

During discussion, members of the Committee agreed that the most important element of the application were the highway aspects with the access to be agreed. Other technical elements of the application seemed to have been met and there was support for the proposal locally.

At the conclusion of the debate, it was proposed by Councillor Sully and seconded by Councillor Pugsley to approve the application subject to the completion of a S106 Agreement, approval of the shadow Habitats Regulation Assessment (sHRA) and the conditions as detailed within the agenda report.

Resolved:

That the Planning Application 43/23/0056 for a mixed use development of up to 200 No. dwellings, employment land (Use Classes E & F), an internal spine road to facilitate a rail halt/station, public open space, drainage & associated infrastructure on land be approved subject to:

 a) approval of the sHRA on receipt of a Reservation Notice confirming that

the required number of P-Credits have been reserved for the development;

and

b) completion of the S106 Agreement (Heads of Terms listed at Appendix 1);

and

c) the conditions listed at Appendix 2 of the agenda report.

Delegated to the Head of Planning.

For 9, Against 1