Agenda and minutes

*DM&L.38                         

There were apologies for absence from Cllr T Leech for whom Cllr R Cheadle was substituting.   Apologies were also received from Cllr M Renders.                     

In accordance with the Code of Conduct, Members are invited to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests, Other Registerable Interests and Non-Registerable Interests including the nature and extent of such interests they may have in any items to be considered at this meeting;

*DM&L.39        

Cllr Yelland declared an interest in application 1861/21/CAC as she was a Ward Member and also an Okehampton Town Councillor. In the interest of transparency, she declared that some Members of the Committee had received an email from the applicant and that this had been forwarded to the Planning Officer.  Cllr Yelland remained in the meeting and took part in the debate and vote on this application.

Cllr Vachon declared that he knew two of the trustees of the Committee for application 1861/21/CAC and that they were supporters of a club for which he was the president, so he stated that he would not debate or vote on that application. He left the meeting when the application was discussed, debated and the vote took place.

Cllr Mott also declared an interest in application 1861/21/CAC as she was related to a trustee and she would therefore not take part in the debate or the vote on that application. She left the meeting when the application was discussed, debated and the vote took place.

Cllr Ratcliffe declared an interest in application 2927/21/FUL as he was the acting Chairman of the Exbourne Neighbourhood Plan Committee. The agent for this application was the Chairman of Exbourne Parish Council and Cllr Ratcliffe attended Parish Council meetings. He confirmed that he had not formed an opinion regarding this application and proceeded to remain in the meeting and take part in the debate and vote on the application.

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.40        

There was no urgent business brought forward to this meeting.

Meeting held on 1 March 2022

*DM&L.41

The Minutes of the Development Management and Licensing Committee Meeting held on 1 March 2022 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 

WARD NAME                                                  Okehampton North  

APPLICATION NUMBER                                 1887/21/FUL                

LOCATION                                                      "Land at Parcel 4B", East of Crediton Road, Okehampton

DEVELOPMENT                                              New vehicular access from Crediton Road and associated footway

WARD NAME                                                  Exbourne       

APPLICATION NUMBER                                 2927/21/FUL                

LOCATION                                                      "Land Adjacent To Hayfield Road", Road From Townsend Farm To Waterhouse Farm Lane, Exbourne, Devon

DEVELOPMENT                                              Change of use of land and conversion of building to provide holiday accommodation

WARD NAME                                                  Okehampton South  

APPLICATION NUMBER                                 1861/21/CAC               

LOCATION                                                      "The Old Mill", Mill Road, Okehampton

DEVELOPMENT                                              READVERTISEMENT (Revised plans received) Conservation area consent for demolition of redundant stone warehouse buildings

*DM&L.42        

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: 1887/21/FUL      Ward:Okehampton North

Site Address: “Land at Parcel 4B”, East of Crediton Road, Okehampton

Development: New vehicular access from Crediton Road and associated footway.

RECOMMENDATION: Conditional Consent

Conditions:

1.      Standard Time limit

2.      Not to commence until such time as the RM for parcel 4b has been approved

3.      Adherence to plans

4.      Tree protection plan adherence

5.      Drainage condition

6.      Highways splay construction 

7.      Bird nesting season hedgerow removal timing

8.      NE License

9.      Adherence to the ecological mitigation report

10.   Biodiversity enhancement to be achieved within the wider 4b parcel Reserved Matters proposal

11.   Landscaping scheme

       Speakers who addressed the Committee on the application were:

Supporter: Mr Daniel Allwood

       West Devon Borough Council Ward Member: Cllr Tony Leech

Mr Allwood explained that a significant amount of time had been spent on developing proposals to minimise the impact of the development.

The proposal of the reduced speed limit would result in a safer environment and a reduction in the quantum of hedgerow loss from the northern access point in parcel 4b. A proposed single access point would result in significant engineering retaining structures which would

       be visually prominent particularly from the south.

Cllr Leech, as the Ward Member, had submitted a written representation, Cllr Leech voiced concerns around potential flooding on a site with a steep hill and said that attenuation of the water would need to be well designed.

During debate, the Planning Officer explained in response to Members’ questions that the reduction in engineering works that would be required if the proposed secondary access was approved meant that there would be more usable space so the options for amenity and urban

design would be improved. Also, while the reserved matters application for the layout was yet to be received, it was unlikely that approval of the secondary access would be integrated across the site and the SDP also limited the amount of affordable housing that could be clustered together.

Members referred to the site having been allocated in the Joint Local Plan and felt that the secondary access proposed would bring forward a better and more acceptable development. Accordingly, after discussion and debate it was proposed and seconded and

       Resolved that:

The Committee unanimously voted in favour of the Conditional Consent.

(b)   Application No:2927/21/FUL   Ward: Exbourne

Site Address: Land Adjacent to Hayfield Road, Road from Townsend Farm to Waterhouse Farm Lane, Exbourne

Development: Change of use of land and coversion of buildings to provide holiday accommodation.

RECOMMENDATION: Refusal

The site was poorly related to nearby settlements and was not served by a satisfactory and safe pedestrian connection that would discourage use of private vehicles. As such the location of the proposed holiday  ...  view the full minutes text for item *DM&L .50

*DM&L.43     

The Senior Specialist, Development Management updated the Members on the recently determined planning appeals.

*DM&L.44

The Senior Specialist, Development Management took Members through the undetermined Major applications. The Monitoring Officer gave an update on the progress on the Plymouth Road application.