Agenda item

Decision:

To grant the application subject to conditions and completion of a Section 106 Agreement

As the application was part-heard and Councillors Baxter, Dilks, Robins, Stevens, A Stokes, I Stokes, Trollope-Bellew and Wood had not been present when it had been considered previously, they did not participate in discussion or vote on the application.

Councillors Stevens, Trollope-Bellew and Wood left the meeting and did not return

Noting:

·         No objection from Lincolnshire County Council Highways and SUDS Support

·         Comments from Bourne Preservation Society

·         No objection from the Health and Safety Executive

·           Requested contribution from Lincolnshire County Council, Education and Cultural Services

·          No objection subject to condition from the Environment Agency

·          Comments from SKDC’s Environmental Protection Services

·           Comments from Heritage Lincolnshire

·           Comments from the SKDC Affordable Housing Officer related to affordable housing provision arising from the proposed development

·          No objection from NHS England and no request for contributions

·          No comment from Welland and Deeping Internal Drainage Board

·         2 representations received as a result of public consultation

·         The officer reports submitted to Committee on 7 February 2017 and 24 July 2018

·         Viability information submitted by the applicant following the decision to grant the permission, appraisal of that information by the VOA and subsequent negotiations and consultation

·         Provisions within the National Planning Policy Framework and the South Kesteven Core Strategy and supplementary planning documents

·         Comments made by members at the meeting

·         Comments made by members on 7 February 2017 and 24 July 2018 when the application was first considered

14:09 – Councillor Dilks left the meeting and did not return

14:12 – Councillor Baxter left the meeting and did not return

Members expressed their frustrations about applications that they were being asked to consider removing or reducing the amount of affordable housing on schemes where planning permission had previously been approved subject to completion of a Section 106 Agreement. Committee members were in agreement that where possible affordable housing should be delivered on site. It was consequently suggested that, in order to provide the best possible opportunity for this to happen, any proposition to approve could incorporate within the Section 106 Agreement, appropriate wording to allow for a cascade arrangement for the delivery of affordable housing:

Members requested that it be recorded that the proposal to approve the application was made with reluctance.

It was proposed and seconded that the application be approved for the reasons set out in the case officer’s report and subject to the conditions set out on pages 56 to 59 of the case officer’s report and subject to the signing of a Section 106 Agreement which would secure

1.    An affordable housing scheme to be agreed prior to the commencement of development that requires:

a.    The developer to use reasonable endeavours to secure the provision of 2x1-bed flats on site for affordable housing in conjunction with a Registered Provider

            In the event this cannot be achieved:

b.    The developer to use reasonable endeavours to secure the provision of 1x2-bed house on site for affordable housing in conjunction with a Registered Provider,

            In the event this cannot be achieved

c.    To provide a financial contribution towards affordable housing – equivalent to the provision of 2x1-bed flats at 60% of their Open Market Value – equating to £144,000. This contribution is to be used to provide affordable housing within Bourne, or subsequently used on a cascading basis in the event that provision in Bourne cannot be secured

2.    Provision of an ‘overage’ clause so that any increase in sales values during the life-time of the development is captured and shared on a 50:50 basis between the Council and the Developer

3.    Provision of a financial contribution of £13,832 towards provision of or improvement of Public Open Space

Provided that if the Section 106 Agreement has not been completed within 6 weeks of the date of this meeting and the Head of Growth, after consultation with the Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Development Management Committee, considers there are no extenuating circumstances which would justify an extension (or further extension) of time, the Head of Growth be authorised to refuse the application on the basis that the necessary infrastructure or community contributions essential to make the development acceptable have not been forthcoming. As there was an equality of votes, the Chairman used his casting vote to approve the application.