Agenda and minutes

To be informed of the appointment of any substitute members for the meeting.

There were no substitute members appointed.

You are invited to declare any registerable and/or non-registerable interests in matters appearing on the agenda, and the nature of that interest.

You are also requested to complete the Declarations of Interests card available at the meeting and return it to the Democratic Services Officer before leaving the meeting.

You are also invited to disclose any dispensation from the requirement to declare any registerable and/or non-registerable interests that have been granted to you in respect of any matters appearing on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest or dispensations reported.

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting held on 17 December 2019.

Resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 17 December 2019 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

To receive the attached guidance to members in determining planning applications and to give consideration to the planning applications listed in the following agenda items.

The Committee received guidance in relation to the principles of decision making when determining planning applications and then gave consideration to the planning applications listed in the following minutes.

To determine a full planning application for development of 6no. retails units (Use Class A1/A3), including associated servicing, car parking, landscaping, drainage and other ancilliary works.

The Committee considered a report from the planning officers in relation to a full planning application from Northumberland Estates for development of six retail units (Use Class A1/A3), including associated servicing, car parking, landscaping, drainage, and other ancillary works. 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 the following residents of Edmund Road had been granted permission to speak to the Committee: Gillian and John Rowe, Carl Dean, and Edward, Glynis and Peter Thompson. As there were a number of speakers, the Chair had requested that the speakers appoint a lead spokesperson to speak for 5 minutes and the remaining speakers be allowed a further 5 minutes to address the Committee.

Gillian Rowe stated that the proposed development did not meet the Council’s guidelines set out in its Local Plan. The development would have an adverse impact on the amenity of neighbouring properties because of the increased volume of traffic, poorer air quality, noise disturbance, risk to safety and increased anti-social behaviour. The shopping centre would be larger than those supported by the Council’s policies and it would attract increased traffic to an already congested area.

Carl Dean described the access and egress from the development site which passed down a residential street. It could be used by in excess of 10,000 vehicles per week and if congestion, speeding or parking problems occurred there did not appear to be any capacity to resolve the problems. The proposed servicing arrangements at the front of the retail units would be problematic. Staff arriving before 6.00am would disturb residents and hotel guests. The development was also likely to lead to an increase in vehicles dangerously turning right from the Holystone Bypass into the access road.

Guy Munden of Northumberland Estates addressed the Committee to respond to the speakers’ comments. He explained that the application was for a small parade of local shops on a brownfield site. It would serve the needs of Holystone Park residents who did not at present have any local shops. Its location next to residential streets would minimise the need for car journeys.  It was not on the scale of a large destination shopping centre and it did not seek to draw trade from other centres. The land had been designated for employment use but there had been no market interest during the past 10 years, its loss was negligible and the provision of a retail centre would support economic growth and enhance the amenity and appearance of the site.  The Council’s highways officers had raised no safety or capacity concerns regarding the proposal.

Members of the Committee asked questions of Guy Munden and officers and made comments. In doing so the Committee gave particular consideration to:

a)    the type and nature of local convenience stores likely to open at the site and the definition of the A1 and A3 use classes;

b)    the location of the units subject to a proposed  ...  view the full minutes text for item PQ53/20

To determine a full planning application for construction of 75 dwellings with associated access, parking, landscaping and infrastructure.

The Committee considered a report from the planning officers in relation to a full planning application from Bellway Homes Limited (North East) for construction of 75 dwellings with associated access, parking,

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

Members of the Committee asked questions of officers and made comments. In doing so the Committee gave particular consideration to:

a)    the proposed diversion of public rights of way across the site and associated improved links from the rights of way to other pedestrian routes;

b)    the provision of 25% affordable housing; and

c)    the benefits of developing a site which had been the location of incidents of anti-social behaviour. 

Resolved that (1) the Committee indicates that it is minded to grant the

application subject to completion of a legal agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and the addition, omission or amendment of any other conditions considered necessary.

(2) the Head of Housing, Environment and Leisure be granted delegated authority to determine the application following the completion of a legal agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to secure the following;

- 25% affordable housing;

- £14,625 towards ecology and biodiversity;

- £5,400 towards allotments;

- £41,062 towards parks and green space;

- £52,500 towards children’s equipped play;

- £48,375 towards improvements towards playing pitches;

- £56,000 towards improvements to built sports facilities;

- £212,500 towards Primary education;

- £14,000 towards employment and training; and

- £25,275 towards coastal mitigation.

(3) the Head of Law and Governance and the Head of Environment, Housing and Leisure be authorised to undertake all necessary procedures under Section 278 of the Highways Act 1980 to secure the following Highways improvements:

- Closure of unused highway access points;

- Upgrade of footpaths abutting site;

- Upgrade of footpaths connecting to the site;

- Associated street lighting;

- Associated drainage;

- Associated road markings;

- Associated Traffic Regulation Orders; and

- Associated street furniture & signage.

To determine a full planning application for 11 new two storey, two and three bed houses, including new road into the development, which will run off the East View Terrace using the existing access point.

The Committee considered a report from the planning officers in relation to a full planning application from Compass Developments NE Ltd for 11 new two storey, two and three bed houses, including a new road into the development which will run off East View Terrace using the existing access point. A planning officer presented details of the application with the aid of various maps, plans and photographs.

Members of the Committee asked questions of officers and made comments. In doing so the Committee gave particular consideration to:

a)    the width and condition of the unadopted lane and access road to the south of the site;

b)    the provision of car parking within the site;

c)    the impact of the development on car parking in the area surrounding the site;

d)    the proposed measures to minimise the risk of surface water flooding on the site; and

e)    the impact of constructing 11 houses on the site.

Resolved that (1) the Committee indicated that it is minded to grant the application subject to completion of a legal agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and the addition, omission or amendment of any other conditions considered necessary; and

(2) the Head of Housing, Environment and Leisure be granted delegated authority to determine the application following the completion of a legal agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to secure the following;

- 100% affordable housing;

- Coastal mitigation; and

- Biodiversity mitigation.