Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

Apologies were received from Councillors Ernie Clark, Sarah Gibson and Fred Westmoreland.

Councillor Clark was substituted by Councillor Graham Wright.

Councillor Gibson was substituted by Councillor Stewart Palmen.

Councillor Westmoreland was substituted by Councillor David Halik.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 26 August 2020.

The minutes of the meeting held on 26 August 2020 were presented for consideration, and it was;

Resolved:

To approve and sign the minutes as a true and correct record.

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

There were no declarations.

To receive any announcements through the Chair.

There were no announcements.

The Council welcomes contributions from members of the public. During the ongoing Covid-19 situation the Council is operating revised procedures and the public are able participate in meetings online after registering with the officer named on this agenda, and in accordance with the deadlines below.

Guidance on how to participate in this meeting online.

Access the online meeting here

Statements

Members of the public who wish to submit a statement in relation to an item on this agenda should submit this is electronically to the officer named on this agenda no later than 5pm on 11 September 2020.

State whom the statement is from (including if representing another person or organisation), state points clearly and be readable aloud in approximately 3 minutes. Up to three speakers for and against are permitted.

Questions

Those wishing to ask questions are required to give notice of any such questions electronically to the officer named on the front of this agenda no later than 5pm on 9 September 2020 in order to be guaranteed of a written response. In order to receive a verbal response questions must be submitted no later than 5pm on 11 September 2020.

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 members prior to the meeting and made available at the meeting and on the Council’s website; they will be taken as read at the meeting.

The procedure for public participation was noted.

Outline Permission for up to 650 Dwellings, including 5ha Employment Generating Space and a 2 Form Entry Primary School. Up to 10ha New Public Open Space Including Country Park, Landscaping, Stormwater & Foul Drainage Works, Substation and Associated Infrastructure Works. Access Using Parsonage Way - Over New Railway Bridge, Darcy Close and from Cocklebury Lane (for Pedestrian/Emergency Works).

Public Participation

Helen Stuckey made a statement in objection to the application.

A statement by Adrian Temple Brown in objection to the application was read out.

Geoff Barrett made a statement in objection to the application.

Peter Frampton, agent, made a statement in support of the application.

The Committee received a presentation from Lee Burman, Development Management Team Leader; which set out the main issues in respect of the application and recommending permission be approved subject to conditions and a section 106 legal agreement. Details were provided of late representations which had been received, with the points raised addressed within the application report.

The application was for Outline Permission for up to 650 Dwellings, including 5ha Employment Generating Space and a 2 Form Entry Primary School. Up to 10ha New Public Open Space Including Country Park, Landscaping, Stormwater & Foul Drainage Works, Substation and Associated Infrastructure Works. Access Using Parsonage Way - Over New Railway Bridge, Darcy Close and from Cocklebury Lane (for Pedestrian/Emergency Works).

Key points included the principle of the development, landscape and visual impact, highways impact, ecological impact, drainage, air quality and planning obligations and section 106 contributions. This history of the application site was detailed, including the committee’s consideration of an earlier set of proposals under this application, compliance with development plans, comments from statutory consultees such as Highways England, and the process for consultation following amendment to the original application. It was stated that various details being included as reserved matters was to ensure development took place in a timely manner and did not indicate that key considerations were unresolved. It was also noted that the Council could not currently demonstrate a five-year housing land supply, which had an impact on the titled balance for consideration of the application.

The Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions of the officers. Details were sought and provided on how air quality would be monitored, changes to the application since its original submission and the five-year housing land supply. It was confirmed that the housing land supply across the council area was required to be considered. A query regarding phosphate and nitrate impacts was confirmed as not relevant to this site.

It was also confirmed in response to queries that a planning condition could not require the listing of a wartime pillbox as this was a separate process, although the management of the heritage asset was conditioned. Details were provided on the process for amending applications or submitting new applications, and there were queries on speed of implementation of any permission.

There were queries regarding the country park element of the outline application, which did not include two fields contained within the site allocation of the Chippenham Sites Allocation Plan. It was confirmed the application included 10ha of public open space as required along the north and eastern parts of the site. It was stated any application on the excluded fields would need to be considered on its own merits if received, although the comments of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.

Any other items of business, which in the opinion of the Chairman, should be taken as a matter of urgency.

There were no urgent items.