Agenda item

Construction of 21 No. dwellings, access, landscaping and associated works. This application is in CIL Zone 2 and is CIL Liable as new dwellings.

The Principal Planning officer presented the report with an update.

The recommendation was proposed by Councillor Lury and seconded by Councillor Northeast.

The Chair invited members to debate the application where the following points were raised the Vice-Chair highlighted that the Barnham & Eastergate Neighbourhood Plan had only been made 2 years ago and at the time it was requested for potential applicants to come forward so sites could be known about, however this site did not. She stated that whilst it was nice to see Bungalows in an application, the area was home to Bats and therefore she didn’t was to see any of the hedgerows removed because of this and as it was a conflict with the neighbourhood plan, she could not support the application. Concerns regarding the high level of housing already seen in the area, the flooding and sewage issues that had been seen over recent years were also raised. It was confirmed by the Vice-Chair that for 7 months Barnham ‘was an open sewer’, there were tankers in the area for the entire duration only leaving in June 2024. She confirmed that Southern Water had put in a new pumping station in order to help the current infrastructure cope with the increase use, she did not see how connecting another 21 Bungalows along with the 4.5 thousand planned in the strategic allocation application that had been put forward for Land South of Barnham Road could be accommodated. Other concerns highlighted were issues surrounding GP surgeries and patient numbers. The Group Head of Planning stated that the Neighbourhood Plan confirmed the application was within the built-up area boundary which meant it was in accordance with policies HP1 and 2.  He also explained that there was a legal right for developers to connect t the Southern Water network, Southern Water were the Statutory caretaker and have responsibility to provide the infrastructure. If they don’t do that then questions can be asked of them, however it was not for members or the council to dictate this through the Planning Process.

Debate continued with members discussing and obtaining advice on the need for Southern Water to made statutory consultees on application and could a Grampian Condition be considered for this application. The Group Head of Planning confirmed that in order for a Grampian Condition to be considered the council would need to know exactly what needed to happen before the development to be able to have a specific set of measures. A suggestion to defer the application to allow for officers to have a conversation with Southern Water was sought, however, the Principal Planning Officer advised that Southern Water had provided a letter that confirmed there was capacity on the network in relation to this application. The Group Head confirmed that should this be what members wish to do, Officer could, however it would be likely that the outcome would be the same as it currently stands.

The Chair stated that whilst he had heard the concerns raised during the debate, there were significant gains to be made with the application when it came to the green agenda, he believed the issues regarding Bats could be overcome and the application was a significant improvement on the previous application that contained 60 dwellings. The officer recommendation was then put to the vote.

The Committee

          RESOLVED

That the application be APPROVED CONDITIONALLY SUBJECT TO A SECTION 106 AGREEMENT