Agenda item

To receive and consider the attached report of the Chief Planning Officer regarding an outline application for residential development.

The report of the Chief Planning Officer presented an outline application for residential development on land at Scott Lane, Morley.

Members attended a site visit prior to the meeting and site plans and photographs were displayed and referred to throughout the discussion on this application.

Further issues highlighted in relation to the application included the following:

·  The site was currently open land and the majority was occupied by the Highways Agency.

·  Members were shown an indicative layout of 115 dwellings on the site.

·  The site was currently used for employment purposes.  The applicant had extensively marketed the site for continued employment use without success.

·  Members were shown access arrangements off Scott Lane.  Scott Lane would be resurfaced if the application was approved.

·  Whilst the site was listed for employment use, it was no longer considered to be viable for that purpose and it was recommended to defer and delegate the application to the Chief Planning Officer for approval.

A local Ward Councillor and local resident addressed the Panel with concerns and objections to the application.  These included the following:

·  The site was allocated for employment use and had been marketed during a period of economic recession.  It was felt that it could still be used for employment purposes.

·  Problems with access at the end of Scott Lane.

·  Traffic problems on the A650 which were exacerbated when there were any motorway roadworks.

The applicant’s representative addressed the Panel.

·  The owners of the site had been marketing it as an employment for 15 years.

·  The application had been submitted following a public consultation event.

·  The site was no longer viable for employment purposes and was not in an area where there was an employment shortfall.

·  Development of this site would assist with the prevention of further greenfield residential development.

·  There would be significant economic benefits through the Section 106 agreement including highway and public transport improvements.

Members went into private session.

RESOLVED – That the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following part of the agenda designated exempt on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as designated as follows:

  The appendix to the main report referred to in Agenda Item 10, Application 14/06825/OT – Land at Scott Lane, Morley under Schedule 12 Local Government Act 1972 and the terms of Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(3) and on the grounds that it contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).  It is considered that if this information was in the public domain it would be likely to prejudice the affairs of the applicant.  Whilst there may be a public interest in disclosure, in all the circumstances of the case, maintaining the exemption is considered to outweigh the public interest in disclosing this information at this time

Following the private session and in response to Members comments and questions the following was discussed:

·  Environmental impact due to the close proximity of the motorway,

·  Concern that a decision should be made whilst the site allocation process was ongoing – it was reported that a decision could not be suspended due to this.

RESOLVED – That the application be approved in principle as per the officer recommendation but deferred and delegated to the Chief Planning Officer subject to conditions and Section 106 agreement.

(Councillors C Campbell and T Leadley voted against the decision to approve the application and requested that their votes be recorded)