Agenda and draft minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 13 March 2024

DM.62/23         

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 13 March 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.63/23         

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.65/23 (b) below refer), they are a personal friend of Neil MacTaggart speaking as an objector.

Cllr M Long declared an Other Registerable Interest in application 4021/21/VAR (Minutes DM.65/23 (a) below refer), knows the agent and Chairman of South Hams Tree Network.  The Member remained in the meeting and took part in the debate and vote thereon.

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

DM.64/23         

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.65/23         

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)       0384/23/OPA       Land At Sx 652 517, Penn Park, Modbury Parish:  Modbury Parish Council

Development:  READVERTISEMENT (viability appraisal submitted with revised affordable housing provision and open market housing mix). Outline Planning Application (with all matters reserved apart from access) for demolition of existing buildings and a residential redevelopment of up to 40 dwellings, including the formation of access and associated works on land at Penn Park, Modbury

Case Officer Update: 

The Case Officer summarised the key issues, namely that:

•          Principle of Development/Sustainability.

•          Affordable Housing and Housing Mix.

•          Local Infrastructure.

•          Noise and disturbance from adjoining buildings/uses.

•          Contamination and geotechnical.

•          Heritage, Landscape and trees.

•          Ecology, Travel Plan, Vehicle Access, Low Carbon Development, and Drainage.

In response to questions raised, the Officer’s reported that:

•          Drovers path was unregistered land and not in the control of anyone although part of the path was accessible to the landowner.

•          The indicative plan shows the spillway and swale.  If water levels got too high in the attenuation baisn, it would go into the spillway and therefore bypass the property. During the development phase the construction management plan would include addressing any surface water issues.

•          This outline application was for up to 40 homes.

•          There were no proposals to change the footpath along the road apart from cutting back the vegetation.

•          The location of the bus stop on the eastern curve was the only place that could accommodate because of the size of the verge.

•          As this was a small development only a few people would use the bus service.  A visibility concern was raised on crossing the road but felt this was a minor risk.

•          National guidelines set out that the ideal walking distance to a bus stop was 400 metres this bus stop would be 500 metres.

•          The bus stop was just with the 30mph zone.

•          The criteria to move the 30mph sign was not met and would be a departure from policy to move the sign.  Would also make enforcement more difficult for the police.

•          Another developer Bloors delivered an open market housing mix aligned with the wider mix for the area.

•          To be policy compliant the developer would need to provide 30% of units which equate to 12 units. They were offering 4 units (10%).

•          Land value was calculated as a desktop exercise on viability, land values as well as taking in account whether the land was developable.

•          House prices have been volatile however do try to get comparable properties within a 2-year period and use data and from sites such as Right Move and Land Registry.

Members raised a number of safety concerns on the  ...  view the full minutes text for item DM.65/23

DM.66/23         

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

DM.67/23         

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

Report to follow

DM.68/23                     

This item deferred to the May meeting