Issue - meetings

To determine a full planning application from Bellway Homes (North East) for the erection of 215no. residential dwellings with access, landscaping, sustainable drainage and associated infrastructure.

Speaking rights have been granted to:

·       Objectors, Maureen Walsh, Katie McNally, Angela Mciver, Peter Kirkley, Paula Leathers, Martin Collins and Allan Henderson.

·       Councillors Louise Marshall and Gary Madden, Wallsend Ward Councillors

·       A representative of the applicants, Bellway Homes (North East)

The Committee considered a report from the planning officers, together with two addendums circulated prior to the meeting, in relation to a full planning application from Bellway Homes (North East) for the erection of 215no. residential dwellings with access, landscaping, sustainable drainage and associated infrastructure.

The application had previously been considered by the Committee at its meeting on 17 January 2023.  Following the meeting, a further representation had been submitted on behalf of Wallsend Boys Club which raised a number of issues detailed in the planning officers report. Having reviewed these issues, it was considered appropriate to bring the application back to the Committee for re-consideration.  The planning officer’s report had been updated/amended where necessary and the applicant had submitted an addendum to its Open Space Assessment and a Planning Note.

A planning officer presented details of the application with the aid of various maps, plans and photographs.

In accordance with the Committee’s Speaking Rights Scheme, Maria Ferguson addressed the Committee on behalf of Wallsend Boys Club and a number of objectors who had been granted permission to speak to the Committee namely, Maureen Walsh, Katie McNally, Peter Kirkley, Martin Collins and Allan Henderson. She was accompanied by Steve Dale of Wallsend Boys Club.

Maria Ferguson noted with regret that it had been necessary for the Committee to reconsider the application following the representations made by Wallsend Boys Club highlighting deficiencies in the earlier decision and indicating that the Club were willing to challenge the decision. The Boys Club remained opposed to the loss of the open space as it provided one of the few opportunities in the area to meet a growing need for sports facilities. There was concern that if the poor condition of the open space could justify its loss then this would set a dangerous precedent for other sites. The application did not comply with relevant planning policies in relation to the loss of open space, the Authority’s Green Space and Playing Pitch Strategies were out of date and the proposed creation of new open spaces were not comparable in terms of their potential for sport and recreation. Concern was also expressed regarding the proposed access to the development via Rheydt Avenue which by virtue of the density of dwellings on the site would lead to undue pressure on the highway network. As the development was contrary to the local plan and would be detrimental to the health and wellbeing of the local community the Committee were urged to refuse the application.

Steve Dale expressed his concerns regarding the role of Bellway Homes, as the applicants, in addressing the Boys Club’s challenge of the Committee’s earlier decision. He was also critical of the Authority’s communications to objectors regarding the re-consideration of the application. The original letter contained an error regarding the date of the meeting which put into question any trust in the planning officers report. Mr Dale challenged the estimated number of traffic movements associated with the development as these had been calculated by netting  ...  view the full minutes text for item 71

To determine a full planning application from Bellway Homes (North East) for the erection of 215no. residential dwellings with access, landscaping, sustainable drainage and associated infrastructure.

Speaking rights have been granted to:

·         Objectors, Charli McNicol, Maureen Walsh, Katie McNally, Angela Mciver, Peter Kirkley, Paula Leathers, Martin Collins and Allan Henderson.

·         Councillors Louise Marshall and Gary Madden, Wallsend Ward Councillors

·         A representative of the applicants, Bellway Homes (North East)

The Committee considered a report from the planning officers, together with an addendum circulated prior to the meeting, in relation to a full planning application from Bellway Homes (North East) for the erection of 215no. residential dwellings with access, landscaping, sustainable drainage and associated infrastructure.

A planning officer presented details of the application with the aid of various maps, plans and photographs.

During the presentation the planning officer stated that:

a)      following consultee comments during the course of the application process the applicant had submitted amended plans which indicated that the onsite provision of informal open space (excluding the bowling green) would be 2.3ha which equated to a loss of 1.88ha; 

b)      the previous planning application for residential development at the application site had been subsequently withdrawn;

c)       since circulation of the report and addendum, further discussions had taken place with Newcastle City Council regarding its request for a financial contribution to take measures to reduce traffic through residential streets in the Appletree Gardens area in Newcastle. In the light of these discussions, the planning officers amended their recommendation to the Committee to include within the terms of the proposed Section 106 Legal Agreement a financial contribution of £50,000 towards the introduction of two closure points as part of Newcastle City Council’s Low Traffic Neighbourhood Scheme; and

d)      officers had been made aware of an electronic petition hosted by the website Change.org and signed by approximately 1,400 people opposed to the application. The petition had not been submitted to the Authority but the issues raised in the petition were addressed in the planning officers report.

The Chair reported that all members of the Committee had been sent a letter by Wallsend Boys Club setting out its objections to the planning application.

In accordance with the Committee’s Speaking Rights Scheme, Maria Ferguson addressed the Committee on behalf of Wallsend Boys Club and a number of objectors who had been granted permission to speak to the Committee namely, Maureen Walsh, Katie McNally, Peter Kirkley, Martin Collins and Allan Henderson. She was accompanied by Steve Dale of Wallsend Boys Club. Maria Ferguson described the Boys Club as a significant community asset and outlined details of its recent expansion. It was opposed to the loss of the publicly owned open space as this would prohibit the club’s growth and its ability to contribute to tackling social issues in the area. She challenged the applicant’s Open Space Assessment in the light of the Authority’s Playing Pitch Strategy being five years out of date and the allocation of the land as open space in the Local Plan 2017. She asked that the application be refused until the Authority reviews its Playing Pitch Strategy. She also raised concerns regarding the impact on ecology and the capacity of Rheydt Avenue to accommodate the additional traffic flows from the development. She considered the proposed improvements to the highway network to be inadequate. The Committee were urged to listen to the views of over 200 objectors, stand by Wallsend Boys  ...  view the full minutes text for item 56