Agenda and minutes

*DM&L.31    

There were apologies for absence from Cllr J Spettigue for who Cllr M Ewings was substituting.                          .

Members are invited to declare any personal or disclosable pecuniary interests, including the nature and extent of such interests they may have in any items to be considered at this meeting.

[If Councillors have any questions relating to predetermination, bias or interests in items on this Agenda, then please contact the Monitoring Officer in advance of the meeting]        

*DM&L.32        

Cllrs T Pearce and B Ratcliffe declared a personal interest in all applications by virtue of being Members of the Devon Building Control Partnership.  They remained in the meeting and took part in the debate and vote thereon.

Cllr Leech declared an interest in application 0352/21/FUL due to him having firm and settled views on the application and subsequently took no part in the debate or vote but did speak as Ward Member on the application.

Cllr Yelland declared an interest on behalf of the whole Committee due to them receiving correspondence from the applicant for the Plymouth Road applications. Cllr Ewings declared an interest due to having been lobbied for the last two years for the first two applications and both remained in the meeting and took part in the debate and vote thereon.

To consider those items which, in the opinion of the Chairman, should be considered by the Meeting as matters of urgency (if any). 

*DM&L.33        

There was no urgent business brought forward to this meeting.

Meeting held on 9 November 2021

*DM&L.34        

The Minutes of the Development Management and Licensing Committee Meeting held on 9^th November 2021 were confirmed as a correct record.

To see Letters of Representation and further supplementary information relating to any of the planning applications on the agenda, please select the following link and enter the relevant Reference number: http://westdevon.gov.uk/searchlanding

*DM&L.35        

The Committee proceeded to consider the report that had been prepared by the relevant Development Management Specialists on each of the following Applications and considered also the comments of the Town and Parish Councils together with other representations received, which were listed within the presented agenda report and summarised below:

(a)    Application No: 0723/21/FUL      Ward: Tavistock South West

Site Address: Land at Plymouth Road, Tavistock

Development: Hybrid application comprising full planning application for the erection of 44 residential dwellings, formation of access, associated public open space, landscaping and infrastructure, and outline planning application for 0.76ha of commercial land (use class E (g)) – formerly B1 with all matters reserved, except means of access.

Speakers who addressed the Committee on the Application were:

Objector: Mr C Beasley

Applicant: Mr G Hutton

Tavistock Town Council: Cllr P Ward

West Devon Borough Council Ward Member: Cllr A Bridgewater

RECOMMENDATION: Delegate approval to Head of Development Management, in conjunction with Chairman to conditionally grant planning permission, subject to a Section 106 legal obligation for the following:

Employment Land

Prior to occupation of 25% of the dwellings, provide an accessed and serviced employment site and to actively market it for a period of up to five years and in accordance with an agreed marketing strategy.  The marketing strategy shall include appropriate site preparation works and landscape management plan.

Open Space/Accessible Natural Greenspace

To provide a policy compliant area of Accessible Natural Greenspace (“Open Space”). Based on the proposed development of 44 dwellings, this would amount to a minimum area of 2,244.63 sqm.

The Open Space shall include an equipped area for play as shown on the submitted drawings.

The Open Space will be delivered and managed in accordance with an Open Space Specification, long-term management mechanism and completed before more than 75% Dwellings can be occupied. It shall be kept available for public use (free of charge) in perpetuity.

Biodiversity Net Gain

Not to commence development until a Compensatory Habitat Scheme* appropriate to secure 6.45 Biodiversity Units and 1.25 hedgerow units has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Council. The compensatory habitat secured by the scheme will be functional within 12 months of commencement of development and be managed for a minimum of 30 years.

*The Compensatory Habitat Scheme could involve financial contribution towards a specific scheme that can facilitate off-site habitat enhancement or any agreed local or national tariff scheme that secures off-site compensation.

Sports Facilities

The Development must pay a financial contribution towards improving sports facilities provision in the Tavistock area (or such other play and sports) projects as may be agreed between the Owner and the Council. Based on the proposed housing mix, this would result in a contribution of £44,540 capital together with a commuted sum of £51,999 towards the long-term maintenance costs of the improvements. (before index linking).

The contribution is payable prior to the Occupation of 50% of the Dwellings.

Allotments

The Development must pay a financial contribution towards the delivery of Allotments  ...  view the full minutes text for item *DM&L .36

*DM&L.36     

The Head of Development Management updated the Members on the recently determined planning appeals.  In so doing, he made particular reference to: Alder Farm Lewdown which was allowed on appeal. As a service bus passed the site the Inspector deemed that not all occupiers would rely on the car so considered it acceptable.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

*DM&L.37 

The Head of Planning took Members through the undetermined Major applications.