Agenda item

Gail Ceviar, Hilary Evans and Sally Fletcher spoke in objection to the application.

Chris Beaver, the planning agent, spoke in support of the application.

Cllr Steve Abbott, Corsham Town Council, spoke with regard to the application.

The planning officer, Chris Marsh, introduced the report which recommended that authority is delegated to the Head of Development Management to grant outline planning permission, subject to conditions and completion of the Unilateral Undertaking within six months, or otherwise to refuse the application. The Committee’s attention was drawn to the late observations and, specifically, the recommendation for the inclusion of an additional condition.

Key issues included: the location of the site in relation to the town and existing buildings; the access to the site, and the route of the footpath; the existing planting in the area, and the character of the site;  that the application for consideration is in relation to the access arrangements for the site; that landscaping is a reserved matter and that a further application would be required to consider other development issues; whether the landscaping and managed footbath would balance any potential negative impact on the ecology and wildlife; the concerns of the public regarding the suitability of the site, including the density of the site; the views of Natural England; that the site would provide up to 31 dwellings and that the final number would be established at a later stage, and whether the concerns could be addressed in reserved matters; that some affordable housing could be provided; the views of the local residents and the Town Council as to the unsuitability of the site for housing;

In response to technical questions: the planning officer confirmed that both the developer and Network Rail would likely bear dual responsibility for addressing safety issues for residents; that the flow of construction traffic could be conditioned in such a way as to reduce the impact on road users elsewhere; and that the density of the proposals was greater than that in the local area.

Members of the public then addressed the Committee as detailed above.

The local member, Councillor Philip Whalley, spoke with regard to the application.

A motion to refuse the application was moved by Councillor Whalley, subsequently seconded by Councillor Chuck Berry, for the reason that: the proposal would cause harm to the local ecology; would not be of a good quality design; and would not provide adequate infrastructure improvements for the community

The Committee then debated the application.

Having been put to the vote, the meeting;

Resolved

To refuse the application for the following reasons:

1.       The application fails to demonstrate that the scheme is capable of providing suitable protection for features of nature conservation and of averting a harmful impact upon landscape character. As such, the proposal conflicts with Core Policies 50 and 51 of the adopted Wiltshire Core Strategy.

2.       The application fails to demonstrate that a high standard of design can be achieved throughout the proposed development, specifically being insufficient to satisfy points (i), (ii), (iii), (vi), (vii) and (viii) of Core Policy 57 of the adopted Wiltshire Core Strategy.

3.       The application proposal fails to provide and secure the necessary and required Services and infrastructure supporting the proposed residential development including Affordable Housing; Waste; Public Open Spaces; Air Quality Management and is therefore contrary to Policies CP3 & CP43 of the Wiltshire Core Strategy  adopted January 2015 and Paras 7, 14 & 17 of the National Planning Policy Framework March 2012.