Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

An apology for absence was received from Cllr Terry Chivers who was substituted by Cllr Graham Wright.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 10 February 2016.

Resolved:

To confirm and sign the minutes of the previous meeting held on 10 February 2016.

To receive any declarations of disclosable interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

Cllr Andrew Davis declared a non-pecuniary interest in West Warminster Urban Extension Masterplan (Minute No 20 below) as he was a member of Warminster Town Council and, as a member of the Town Council’s Planning Advisory Committee, had taken no part in the Committee’s consideration of the matter and had left the committee room during the debate.

To receive any announcements through the Chair.

The Chairman referred to the recent sad death of Cllr Jeff Osborn and informed the meeting that a condolences book was available and was being circulated to Members for them to sign.

The Council welcomes contributions from members of the public.

Statements

Members of the public who wish to speak either in favour or against an application or any other item on this agenda are asked to register in person no later than 10.20am on the day of the meeting.

The Chairman will allow up to 3 speakers in favour and up to 3 speakers against an application and up to 3 speakers on any other item on this agenda. Each speaker will be given up to 3 minutes and invited to speak immediately prior to the item being considered. The rules on public participation in respect of planning applications are detailed in the Council’s Planning Code of Good Practice.

Questions

To receive any questions from members of the public or members of the Council received in accordance with the constitution which excludes, in particular, questions on non-determined planning applications. Those wishing to ask questions are required to give notice of any such questions in writing to the officer named on the front of this agenda (acting on behalf of the Corporate Director) no later than 5pm on Wednesday 6 April 2016. Please contact the officer named on the front of this agenda for further advice. Questions may be asked without notice if the Chairman decides that the matter is urgent.

Details of any questions received will be circulated to Committee members prior to the meeting and made available at the meeting and on the Council’s website.

No questions had been received from councillors or members of the public.

The Chairman welcomed all present.  He then explained the rules of public participation and procedure to be followed at the meeting.

Col Neil Page and Mr David Alderson from the Defence Infrastructure Organisation spoke in support of the three army basing applications in Minute Nos. 17 – 19 below.

A report by the Case Officer is attached.

A report by the Case Officer is attached.

The Committee received a presentation by the Case Officer which set out the main issues in respect of the application, with a recommendation that the application be approved, subject to all parties entering into a Section 106 legal agreement and also subject to conditions. 

Members then had the opportunity to ask technical questions after which they heard the views of Cllr Christopher Williams, the local Member, in support of the application.

Cllr Mark Connolly, an adjoining local Member, expressed the view that the proposed pedestrian crossing at Perham Down Camp between the Officers’ mess and the main camp entrance may not be necessary.

During discussion the following points were raised:

·         Reference being made to the provision of affordable housing within the Section 106 Heads of terms,

·         The need for an additional informative relating to speed limits on roads surrounding the development site, and

·         The need for an additional informative relating to the proposed pedestrian crossing at Perham Down Camp requesting that the parties work together to remove the crossing should a future decision be taken that the crossing was no longer required.

Resolved:

To grant planning permission, subject to:

(1)       All parties entering into a Section 106 legal agreement in respect of the following:

·         Off site road junction improvements

·         Provision of sustainable transport measures

·         Land and contributions for education provision

·         Delivery of community facilities at Ludgershall and Larkhill

·         Access to MoD sports and community facilities

·         Provision and maintenance of on-site public open space and play facilities

·         Contributions towards collection of waste

·         Delivery of the Larkhill medical facility to be made available for NHS GP

·         Provision for affordable housing contributions in the event of the dwellings being sold to the market

·         Ecology provisions – including: terms of reference for the Salisbury Plain Environmental Steering Group and Hydrology Steering Group, provision of recreation pressure mitigation in respect of breeding Stone Curlew, detail and implementation of the Recreational Access Action Plan. (Note: the resolution seeks flexibility so as to make use of planning conditions in addition to, or instead of s106, so as to secure the ecological provisions).

(2)          The following conditions:

01.      The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission.

REASON:   To comply with the provisions of Section 91 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 as amended by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

02.      No development of the school and community site shall take place until details of the following matters (in respect of which approval is expressly reserved) in relation to the school and community site have been submitted to, and approved in writing by, the Local Planning Authority:

a)    The scale of development

b)   The layout of development

c)    The external appearance of development

d)   The landscaping of development

REASON:  This element of the application was made for outline permission and is granted to comply with the provisions of Section 92 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and Article 3(1) of the Town  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

A report by the Case Officer is attached.

The following person spoke against the application:

Mr David Matthews, owner of Stonehenge Golf Centre

The Committee received a presentation by the Case Officer which set out the main issues in respect of the application, with a recommendation that the application be approved, subject to all parties entering into a Section 106 legal agreement and also subject to conditions. 

Members then had the opportunity to ask technical questions after which they heard the views of Mr David Matthews, owner of Stonehenge Golf Centre, expressing his views regarding the planning application.

Members then heard the views of Cllr Graham Wright, as the local Member, who, whilst supporting the proposal, expressed some concern about the design of the new roundabout access and questioned the need for a four legged roundabout. He also questioned how public access to the MOD sports and community facilities would be managed.  

During discussion, the following points were raised:

·         Reference being made to the provision of affordable housing within the Section 106 Heads of terms,

·         The need to consider the risk of stray golf balls being struck into the application site,

·         The need for an additional informative relating to speed limits on roads surrounding the development site, and

·         The need for further consideration being given to the design of the new roundabout access.

Resolved:

To grant planning permission, subject to:

(1)       Prior to the determination of the application, Officers be delegated to investigate, consider and assess the relative merits of a 3-legged or 4-legged design for the roundabout access to the site and, if necessary, incorporate changes to that access into the proposed development. Such considerations and assessment shall include where necessary, the carrying out of junction counts at Wood Road and Tombs Road.

(2)       The receipt of the comments of Historic England in respect of the assessment of visual impacts associated with the new roundabout access, including dark skies assessment, to demonstrate the outstanding universal value of the Stonehenge WHS is protected, including any necessary mitigation and imposition of necessary planning conditions.

(3)          All parties entering into a legal agreement under s106 of The Act in respect of the following:

·         Off site road junction improvements

·         Provision of sustainable transport measures

·         Land and contributions for education provision

·         Delivery of community facilities at Ludgershall and Larkhill

·         Access to MoD sports and community facilities

·         Provision and maintenance of on-site public open space and play facilities

·         Contributions towards collection of waste

·         Delivery of the Larkhill medical facility to be made available for NHS GP

·         Provision for affordable housing contributions in the event of the dwellings being sold to the market

·         Ecology provisions – including: terms of reference for the Salisbury Plain Environmental Steering Group and Hydrology Steering Group, provision of recreation pressure mitigation in respect of breeding Stone Curlew, detail and implementation of the Recreational Access Action Plan. (Note: the resolution seeks flexibility so as to make use of planning conditions in addition to, or instead of s106, so as to secure the ecological provisions).

(4)          The following conditions:

01.         The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

A report by the Associate Director, Economic Development & Planning  is attached.

The following people spoke against the proposal

Mr Tony Nicklin, Chairman, Neighbourhood Plan Working Group

Mr Len Turner, Chairman, Warminster & Villages Partnership

Mr Jeremy Stadward, a local resident

Mrs Tracy Clifford, representing ABC Action Group & a local resident

The following people spoke in support of the proposal

Mr Dennis Barry of GL Hearn – Property Consultants, representing Persimmon Homes.

Ms Jenny Mitter of Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners, representing Redrow Homes.

Consideration was given to a report by the Associate Director, Economic Development & Planning requesting the Committee to endorse the draft West Warminster Urban Extension masterplan (WWUE) and to authorise the Associate Director for Economic Development & Planning, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Development Management, Strategic Housing, Property & Waste, to make any further necessary minor changes in the interest of clarity and accuracy.

It was explained that the masterplan would guide the future development of the WWUE, which would deliver a significant portion of the town’s housing and employment needs over the Core Strategy plan period to 2026. The delivery of the WWUE would deliver much needed housing (including affordable), boost employment opportunities, and infrastructure to support this growth.

Members had the opportunity to ask technical questions after which the Committee received statements from members of the public as detailed above, expressing their views regarding the application.

Members then heard the views of Cllr Pip Ridout, a local Member, who spoke against the proposal in its current form.  In particular she questioned the number of houses (1,550) as set out in the WWUE as against 900 dwellings for this area of Warminster included in the Wiltshire Core Strategy for the period up to 2016. 

During the ensuing discussion, Members considered that there appeared to be some confusion on the number of houses which should be included in this masterplan and they also requested further detailed information about potential flooding, landscaping, traffic management particularly of West Street and the sighting of the proposed new primary school.

Resolved:

To defer consideration of the draft West Warminster Urban Extension masterplan and to request the officers:

(1)  to look into how this could be brought into greater conformity with the Wiltshire Core Strategy, and

(2)  to examine further the issues regarding potential flooding, landscaping, traffic management particularly affecting West Street and the position of the new primary school.

To note that the next scheduled meeting of this Committee is due to be held on Wednesday 11 May 2016, at County Hall, Trowbridge, starting at 10.30am.

Resolved:

To note that the next scheduled meeting of the Committee is due to be held on Wednesday 11 May 2016, at County Hall, Trowbridge, starting at 10.30am.