Agenda item

To receive the report of the Chief Planning Officer for full planning application for the erection of 88 dwellings including associated car parking and garages, formation of new access, public open space, landscaping and parking facilities at land off Grove Road, Boston Spa, Wetherby.

(Report attached)

Further to Minute 158 of the meeting held on 13^th April 2017 the Chief Planning Officer submitted a report seeking approval of a residential development comprising of 88 dwellings with associated car parking and garages, formation of new access, public open space, landscaping and parking facilities at Grove Road, Boston Spa.

Members were advised that 3 additional letters of objection had been received with issues raised as follows:-

·  Impact on the house to the south of the site called Meadow View in terms of privacy and outlook;

·  Increased traffic and congestion and unsuitability of roads;

·  Impact on peace and tranquillity of the adjacent hospice;

·   House types of basic 1980s design and out of keeping with Boston Spa;

·  Previous Miller Homes customers had been dissatisfied with their new home;

·  Comment querying why the Panel report was dated 11^th May, despite being published earlier.

It was noted that all the issues raised had been covered at the previous Panel meeting of the 13^th April, other than the final bullet point, the report was dated when the Panel were due to consider the matter.

Members were also advised of an amendment to the Section 106 Agreement to include an additional obligation to construct the boundary fencing to the hospice boundary and to maintain it as part of the on site public open space maintenance. Details of the fencing would be appended to the Section 106 agreement.

Members were advised how Miller Homes intended to address previous concerns:

·  The boundary to the hospice was to be maintained through the Section 106 agreement by a management company

·  A LEAP (local equipment area of play) play area similar to the one on the Wetherby development was to be provided on the main area of public open space in the north east corner of the site.

·  The ‘Corner Turner’ (Kipling) house type had been removed from 3 plots and replaced with a more traditional house type.

·  Speed limits on Grove Road would be addressed within the Section 106 Agreement

·  A section of hedge would be removed at the Grove Road/ Green Lane junction and dropped crossings provided to facilitate the crossing of these roads.

·  Staggered metal railings would be provided to ensure that pedestrians and particularly children could not run straight out onto the road.

·  Similar staggered railings would also be provided on the new section of footpath that leads to the bus stop.

·  The pumping station required at the north eastern corner of the site would be 2 small cabinets and associated hardstanding that would be enclosed with hoop top railings and soft landscaping.

·  The applicant Miller Homes had agreed to participate in a consultative forum and that this would form part of the planning conditions.

Members discussed the following points:

·  That a standard condition be added to all large developments for the applicants to participate in local consultation forums.

·  Section 106 agreement  to address local employment issues

Members were informed that the applicant was eager to get on site and start the development.

The Panel was advised that the Euro Lock had been found to be an unsuitable deterrent against burglary therefore new locks were to be used at this development. Members requested that this be a standard condition for new developments but were advised that this was required by building regulations and it was not therefore appropriate to impose a planning condition.

RESOLVED - To defer and delegate approval to the Chief Planning Officer subject to the conditions set out in the submitted report and the prior completion of a section 106 Agreement as set out in the submitted report.