Agenda and draft minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 10 April 2024

DM.69/23         

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 10 April 2024 were confirmed as a correct record by the Committee.

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.70/23         

Members and officers were invited to declare any interests in the items of business to be considered and none were made.

Cllrs J Hodgson and G Allen both declared an Other Registerable Interest in application 4021/21/VAR (Minutes DM.72/23 (a) below refer), they are a personal friend of Neil MacTaggart speaking as an objector.

By virtue of being a local Ward Member, Cllr M Long advised that he would be relinquishing the Chair for application 6(d) (minute DM.72/23(d) below refers).  As a result, the Vice-Chairman chaired the meeting during consideration of this application.

The Chairman to advise the Committee on any requests received from members of the public to address the meeting;

DM.71/23         

The Chairman noted the list of members of the public, Town and Parish Council representatives, and Ward Members who had registered their wish to speak at the meeting.

To see Letters of Representation and further supplementary information relating to any of the Applications on the agenda, please select the following link and enter the relevant Planning Reference number: http://apps.southhams.gov.uk/PlanningSearchMVC/

DM.72/23        

The Committee considered the details of the planning applications prepared by the relevant Case Officers as presented in the agenda papers, and considered the comments of Town and Parish Councils, together with other representations received, which were listed within the presented agenda reports, and RESOLVED that:

6a)       4021/21/VAR            Development site at SX 809597, Steamer                                                                Quay Road, Totnes                                                                                                    Town:  Totnes

Development:  Application for variation of condition 2 (approved drawings) of planning consent 4165/17/FUL [erection of a 68 bed Care Home (use class C2) with associated car parking, refuse and external landscaping]

Case Officer Update:  The Case Officer summarised the key issues, namely:

•          Whether a s73 application can be made.

•          Housing mix/quality of accommodation.

•          Design, landscape/townscape character and appearance, trees.

•          Highways.

•          Residential amenity.

•          Flood risk and drainage.

•          Ecology and biodiversity.

•          Energy efficiency and climate change.

In response to questions raised:

•          With regard to the retaining wall proposed planning condition 12 and 3 would require no further development to take place until plans had been submitted.

•          The Totnes Neighbourhood Plan does have relevant material consideration but have to be careful to suggest that there was an element in the NP that the principle of development was unacceptable.

•          This plan was not looked at by the Design Review Panel and Officer’s felt this scheme was very similar to the consented scheme.

•          Condition proposed that no addition could go above the 20-metre line and the solar panels should not be visible because of the parapet.

•          No additional transport assessment had taken place and the impacts between the two applications were very similar.

•          The applicant and Ecology Officer at Devon County Council have had numerous discussions regarding bats and lighting and subject to condition felt that there would be no adverse impact.

•          No in principle objection to this application from the statutory consultees regarding the drainage.

•          The uncompleted planting of screening on the approved drawings would be a separate matter to this application.

•          There was a condition relevant to EV charging.

•          Highways were happy with the parking spaces proposed due to the nature of the occupants staying at the care home and this was a sustainable location and expect people to travel by sustainable means.

•          The Construction Management Plan would include the methodology of the piling, and this was already proposed as part of the consented scheme, however this would be looked at again because of the additional excavation.

•          Obscure glazing was not relevant to every balcony and subject to a planning condition.

•          The applicant has agreed to a condition regarding the retaining wall to the east of the development.

•          The construction management plan would be reimposed and an opportunity to review the timings and movements of construction vehicles.

•          It was further reiterated that the drainage had been looked at by the Environment Agency and lead statutory authority and they were happy with the proposals.

•          Was unsure how feasible the removal  ...  view the full minutes text for item DM.72/23

DM.73/23         

Members noted the update on planning appeals as outlined in the presented agenda report.

DM.74/23         

Members noted the update on undetermined major applications as outlined in the presented agenda report.