Agenda and minutes

To receive and record apologies for absence.

There were no apologies for absence.

To approve the minutes of the Development Management Committee held on 18 July 2019.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Development Management Committee held on 18 July 2019 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive the minutes of the Site Viewing Working Party held on 22 August 2019.

The minutes of the Site Viewing Working Party held on 22 August 2019 were received.

To receive and record declarations of interests from members present in respect of the various matters on the agenda for this meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Chairman to report the outcome of meetings attended or other information arising since the last meeting of the Committee.

The Chairman advised that meetings in September would held on the following dates:

5^th September –        Site Viewing Working Party to view items for the meetings to be held on 10^th and 19^th September. 

10^th September –      Extraordinary Development Management Committee to discuss applications relating to sites at Queen Anne’s Drive, Lexden Gardens and Bedhampton Road.

19^th September –      Development Management Committee application for development at Camp Field.

The Committee are invited to consider any matters they wish to recommend for site viewing or deferment.

There were no matters to be considered for site viewing and deferment.

Proposal: Erection of 320 dwellings (including a 30% provision of affordable homes), 66 bed care home, provision of public open space, habitat mitigation zone, allotments, closure of existing access and creation of 2 new access points and associated infrastructure following demolition of existing buildings.

Associated documents - https://tinyurl.com/yy8rwev8

(The site was viewed by the Site Viewing Working Party)

Proposal: Erection of 320 dwellings (including a 30% provision of affordable homes), 66 bed care home, provision of public open space, habitat mitigation zone, allotments, closure of existing access and creation of 2 new access points and associated infrastructure following demolition of existing buildings.

The Committee considered the written report and recommendation from the Head of Planning to grant permission.

The Committee received the supplementary information, circulated prior to the meeting which:

(1)         detailed an additional consultee response from Network Rail who confirmed they raised no objection;

(2)         detailed an update to the planning considerations regarding the Habitats Regulations Assessment;

(3)         gave responses to the questions raised by the Site Viewing Working Party held on 22 August 2019; and

(4)          gave a revised recommendation to take into account the amendments outlined in (1) to (3) above.

The Committee was addressed by the following deputees:

a)           Mr Morrell, who objected, on behalf of the West of Bedhampton Residents Association, to the application for the following reasons:

              1.           the developer had failed to conduct adequate wildlife surveys and had relied on out of date assessments even though the application had been submitted in 2018. He questioned whether the developer would accede to the requirements of Hampshire County Council Ecology and Natural England relating to ecology assessments before any development commenced;

              2.           the proposed highway improvements to the Rusty Cutter roundabout would not provide a safe passage for children or elderly people. An official traffic model was required to ensure that any proposed improvements could ensure the safety and wellbeing of the most vulnerable residents.  An independent survey by the West of Bedhampton Residents’ Association had deemed this roundabout as a great hazard;

              3.           the introduction of a park and ride scheme was contrary to the Local Plan’s objectives relating to carbon neutral developments;

              4.           no evidence of run-off water, field or soil nitrogen levels had been included;

              5.           the proposed site was to be elevated significantly and would have a huge impact on Westways.  He questioned whether there were sufficient measures in place to cope with excessive run off if the Sustainable Urban Drainage solution (SUDs) failed;

              6.           The current sewerage network was already at maximum capacity as evidenced by the recent discharges of effluent by the Southern Water Authority into Langstone Harbour. This development would exacerbate this problem;

              7.           the proposed three storey element of the development would be out of keeping of the character of the area and would create an undesirable precedent;

              8.           The 30% affordable housing did not meet the required standards. The configuration of the development, parking and road layout would need to be addressed if the affordable units were built to the national standard;

              9.           the application had attracted many objections, including a petition;          

              10.         the Council had not received confirmation that the mitigation area would not be disturbed from the existing grassland. He further commented that any re-fertilisation would require another nutrient budget calculation;

              11.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.