Agenda item

16/04126/OUT: Land at Hilltop Way, Salisbury, SP1 3QX

Outline application for the proposed erection of 10 semi detached bungalows, new footpath link, and creation of public open space (resubmission of 15/11350/OUT) incorporating 20 off street parking spaces and 5x laybys to Hilltop Way.

Minutes:

Public Participation

Keith Leslie spoke in Objection to the application.

John Gately (Agent) spoke in support of the application.

Kate Blakemore spoke in support of the application.

 

The Senior Planning Officer presented the Outline application for the proposed erection of 10 semi detached bungalows, new footpath link, and creation of public open space (resubmission of 15/11350/OUT) incorporating 20 off street parking spaces and 5x laybys to Hilltop Way. The application was recommended for Refusal.

 

Members of the Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions of the Officers, it was noted that they specific type of affordable housing to go on the site was not yet determined. The land was currently deemed as open countryside.

 

Members of the public then had the opportunity to present their views to the Committee as detailed above.

 

The Unitary Division Member; Councillor Mary Douglas spoke in Objection to the application, noting that it had been called in due to local concern, as there had been 22 letters of concern relating to this application. She drew attention to the policies in place to protect residents from certain future planning issues. Nothing had changed with this application since the previous occasion it had come to committee, the impact of this development on Pauls Dene would be negative. The Committee were urged to refuse the application.

 

Councillor Ian McLennan proposed the application be refused in line with Officers recommendation. If we pre-judge and agree a site outside of the housing allocation site we would open up the floodgate. We should wait to see what the outcome of the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) process was. This motion was then seconded by Cllr Richard Britton.

 

The Committee discussed the application noting that despite the application being supported by Salisbury City Council’s (SCC) Planning Committee, the shared ownership bungalows did not fit with affordable housing, as retired people would find it hard to get a mortgage.

 

The Chairman took issue with the Open Space Study and hoped that SCC would look at what they were asking for in terms of open space. He added that bungalows on a hill were not best placed for older people’s housing.

 

Resolved

The application 16/04126/OUT be Refused in line with Officers recommendation, for the following reasons:

 

 

1

The site lies outside the defined limits for development and the proposed residential development for affordable housing in this location would be contrary to the Wiltshire Core Strategy Polices 1 and 2 and NPPF para 11, 12, 14 and 49. Although the site is under consideration as part of the Site Allocation process, no decisions have been taken on the likely site choices, and therefore no conclusions can be drawn on the likelihood of this site's designation. Therefore it would be premature to cite this as justification for allowing development contrary to the Core Strategy. By virtue of its scale and nature, the proposal is not considered to meet any of the criteria for exceptional development as set out in the Core Strategy and there are no overriding reasons to treat the land as an appropriate windfall site, because the Council can demonstrate a 5 year housing land supply, which would deliver affordable housing provision under the appropriate policies. 

2

The site currently makes a positive contribution to the character of the Paul’s Dene Estate and marks a degree of transition between the urban and rural landscapes. The closing of the open area would materially detract from the character of the estate and reduce the attraction of the adjoining bridleway for users, contrary to Core Policy 57 and para 56 of the NPPF.

 

Supporting documents: