Agenda item

Proposal:                   Construction of 46 dwellings, including vehicular access, pedestrian and cycle links, public open space, car parking, landscaping, drainage and associated works

Location:                    Land off Easthorpe Road, Great Gonerby, Grantham, NG31 8LZ

Case Officer:             Kevin Cartwright

Recommendation:   To approve the application subject to conditions and completion of a Section 106 Agreement

Proposal:      Construction of 46 dwellings, including vehicular access, pedestrian and cycle links, public open space, car parking, landscaping, drainage and associated works

Location:      Land off Easthorpe Road, Great Gonerby, Grantham, NG31 8LZ

Decision:      To refuse the application contrary to officer recommendations

Councillor Ian Stokes spoke against the application and consequently did not participate in debate or vote on the application.

Noting comments made during the public speaking session by:

Together with:

·         No comments from Historic England

·         No objection in principle and comments from the SKDC Arboricultural Consultant

·         Comments from the National Trust

·         Comments of the SKDC Historic Buildings Adviser (SKDC)

·         Comments from the Lincolnshire County Council Footpaths Officer

·         Comments from the SKDC Affordable Housing Officer

·         Comments from NHS England and request for a Section 106 contribution

·         Comments from Anglian Water Services

·         Comments from Lincolnshire County Council Education and Cultural Services and request for a Section 106 contribution

·         No comments from the Environment Agency

·         Comments from Heritage Lincolnshire

·         No comments from Natural England

·         No representation from Great Gonerby Parish Council

·         No objection from Lincolnshire County Council Highways and SUDS Support subject to conditions

·         No comment from the Gardens Trust

·         Viability information submitted by the applicant and independently assessed by the Council’s viability consultants

·         17 representations received as a result of public consultation

·         A petition signed by 153 local residents objecting to the proposed development

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

·         Comments made by members at the meeting

Members noted the measures that were included to protect existing trees along the boundary of the site and the maintenance of the hedgerow. The Committee also noted the measures that were proposed in respect of two public rights of way that ran along the site’s boundary to ensure that they were still available and pleasant to walk.

Discussion ensued on the impact of the proposal on nearby heritage assets and the measures that were proposed to mitigate that impact.

In discussing the applications members expressed particular concern about the impact of the proposed two-storey dwellings on the existing bungalows situated on the opposite side of Easthorpe Road. Committee members felt that the position of the two-storey dwellings was not congruent with the existing street scene and contrary to the character of the area.

Members considered the proposed terms for the Section 106 Agreement, which would see 100% affordable housing delivered through the development. The Committee noted the contents of the viability assessment submitted by the applicant and independently appraised by the Council’s appointed consultant, which concluded that the development would create a deficit if, in addition to the affordable housing, contributions were made to education and health services. While members acknowledged the need for affordable housing, they raised concerns about the impact of the additional residents on local education and health services.

It was proposed and seconded that the application be approved for the reasons set out in the case officer’s report and subject to completion of a Section 106 Agreement and conditions including an additional clause in respect of condition 5 requiring the landscaping and maintenance of shrubs and trees, and the replacement of any that did not thrive, for a period of five years. On being put to the vote, the proposition was lost.

A new proposition was made that the application be refused contrary to officer recommendations because the benefits of the affordable housing did not outweigh the lack of developer contributions for health and education, contrary to policy SP4 of the Core Strategy, and because the proposed design was not in-keeping with the country lane character of Easthorpe Road, contrary to policy EN1 of the Core Strategy, in particular the juxtaposition of the proposed two-storey housing to the existing bungalows on Easthorpe Road.

The proposal was seconded and the Head of Development Management confirmed that the reasons for refusal were acceptable, permitting the Committee to make a decision outright without invoking the cooling-off period set out in the Council’s Constitution. On being put to the vote, the proposition to refuse the application contrary to officer recommendations was carried.