Agenda item

Public Participation

Mark Pettit, agent to the applicant, spoke in support of the application.

David Cox, Senior Planning Officer, introduced a report which recommended the refusal of the planning application for the demolition of existing buildings/structures, and residential development (Class C3) of up to 9 no. dwellings; with associated car parking, turning, landscaping, private amenity space, access arrangements, and provision of footway - External access not reserved (Re-submission of Application No 18/07416/OUT).

Mike Wilmott, Head of Development Management, along with David Cox discussed issues surrounding the lack of a five-year housing land supply, the Ecological Parameters Plan, and the distance and isolation between the application site and village of Steeple Ashton.

Key issues highlighted included: the principle of the development; meeting Wiltshire’s housing needs; highway safety and parking; impacts on landscape, ecology, designated heritage assets; drainage matters; and s106/CIL contributions.

Members of the Committee had the opportunity to ask technical questions to the officer. The main points of focus included: local village facilities such as the frequency of bus services, local schools and the community shop; drainage concerns; and if the proposed footpath would be lit.

Officers noted: that as per the drainage report, the site would contain septic tanks and any surface water would be dealt with soakways; there are approximately five daily bus services that stop in the main village; and that the proposed footpath would not be lit as the existing path is not, due to the site being a known bat route which officers sought to protect.

Members of the public, as detailed above, had the opportunity to speak on the application.

Local Unitary Member, Councillor Jonathon Seed, spoke in support of the application and made reference to the non-objection to the principle from the Parish Council, and the minimal changes to the landscape.

Members then debated their concerns in regard to the conflict with the development plan policies, the distance and separation between the application site and the village, and the lack of a five-year housing land supply.

Councillor Ernie Clark moved to refuse the application in line with officer recommendations, which Councillor Pip Ridout seconded.

In the ensuing debate, points raised included: the merits of the size and nature of the development, the concerns regarding prior noise complaints and the location being well beyond the limits of the village. During the vote each member confirmed they had been able to hear and where possible, see all relevant materials.

Following the debate, it was:

Resolved

That application 19/02719/OUT be refused, in line with officer recommendations, for the following reasons:

The application site is located in the open countryside outside of the established village limits for Steeple Ashton as defined by the adopted Wiltshire Core Strategy. The proposal does not satisfy any of the Council’s adopted exemption policies and thus conflicts with the Council's plan-led approach to the delivery of new housing sites outside of the identified limits of development, as set out by Core Policy 2 of the Wiltshire Core Strategy. The proposal would therefore be contrary to Core Policies 1, 2, 15, 60 and 61 of the Wiltshire Core Strategy and would conflict with NPPF paragraph 79 which sets out the adopted approach to directing new housing growth to sustainable locations.