Agenda item

To consider a report by the Development Control Manager in conjunction with the Report of the Development Control Panel (Item No. 15 refers).

In conjunction with the report of the Development Control Panel (Minute No. 49 (f) refers), the Head of Planning Services introduced a report (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) regarding a planning application for the erection of 20 houses and 9 flats with associated works and landscaping on an existing area of open space fronting onto Mayfield Road, Huntingdon.

In the course of his presentation, the Head of Planning Services explained that the development represented a departure from the Development Plan and would therefore require submission to Go-East on the basis that the open space proposed for development originally had been designated for protection under the Huntingdonshire Local Plan, 1995.  He further advised that current Government guidance recommended the development of affordable housing in urban and sustainable locations. 

The Council was made aware that the proposal would bring forward an exemplar form of sustainable residential development, deliver 29 affordable housing units and accord with the design brief adopted for the site in July 2008, with 30% of the site being retained as open space.  The Head of Housing Services advised the Council of the current housing need in the District and in Huntingdon East Ward in particular, while the Team Leader, Environment described the principles of Level 5 of the Code for Sustainable Homes and referred to the example that the Council would set if it were to recommend a development which complied with this standard.

The Council received personal representations from Ms Hilton and Mr Brewer, objectors and from Mr Blake and Mr Budden, the agents for the applicants.  The Chairman of the Development Control Panel, Councillor P G Mitchell, also drew attention to those issues which had led the Panel to indicate its support for the application and to recommend its approval and, following representations made by Councillors Sanderson and Thorpe, suggested that the applicant be requested to provide an appropriately designed children’s play area as part of the development.

The following issues were raised during detailed discussion of the application:-

¨  that Planning Policy Statement No. 1 (2007) committed planning authorities to provide homes, jobs and infrastructure with lower carbon emissions resilient to climate change;

¨  that the developer be requested to take established landscaping and habitats into account when developing the site;

¨  that it was the intention of the applicant to approach Huntingdon Town Council with a view to that Council accepting responsibility for maintenance of the open space;

¨  that the Open Space, Sport and Recreation Needs Assessment had identified a surplus of amenity space in the Huntingdon East Ward but that, in any event, the development would secure the retention of 30% of the site as open space; and

¨  that there was no Section 106 contribution proposed for education because there was no land value attached to the site and the requirement for affordable housing and a desire to provide an exemplar sustainable development outweighed any financial benefit which would normally be negotiated on behalf of consultees.

Following a number of contributions to the debate by Members both in support and against the application it was moved, seconded and

RESOLVED

  (a)  that subject to conditions to be determined by the Head of Planning Services and the provision of an appropriately designed children’s play area, the application for the erection of 20 houses and 9 flats with associated works and landscaping on informal open space, north-west of 5 Mayfield Road, Huntingdon be supported;

  (b)  that the Government Office for the Eastern Region be requested to consider whether they wish to call in the proposal; and

  (c)  that, in the event that the proposal is not called in by the Government Office, the application be approved, subject to the conditions set out in paragraph 8 of the report now submitted.