50 homes and football pitch at Former Bacton Community Middle School (In The Parish Of Wyverstone) Wyverstone Road Bacton

What was proposed

The application sought reserved matters approval for 50 homes, a 3G football pitch, parking, drainage, landscaping, layout and highway infrastructure.

“Development of Description Submission of Details, Reserved Matters application for Outline Planning Permission DC/17/03799 - Appearance, Landscaping, Layout and Scale to be considered for erection of 50no dwellings, a 3G football pitch, car parking and associated infrastructure including drainage and highway works.”

“Location Former Bacton Community Middle School (In The Parish Of Wyverstone), Wyverstone Road, Bacton, IP14 4LH.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The former middle school site lies east of Wyverstone Road, with new housing to the south and agricultural land to the north.

“The application site is located to the north of Bacton, being situated to the east of Wyverstone Road. The site is the former Bacton Middle School, which has now been demolished.”

“At outline stage, the surrounding area was predominantly open land. New build residential now surrounds the site to the south, with the Laurance Homes development to the southwest and Taylor Wimpey development to the southeast, effectively linking the site to Bacton, although it lies within No. of Beds No. of Units 1 0 2 4 3 22 4+ 14 TOTAL 40 No. of Beds No. of Units 1 4 2 5 3 1 4+ 0 TOTAL 10”

Officer report

Earlier planning permission

Outline permission for up to 50 homes, roads, parking, open space and football pitches was granted in 2020, establishing the development principle.

“REF: DC/17/03799 Application for Outline Planning Permission (Access to be considered) Erection of up to 50 dwellings, construction of estate roads and car parking, provision of open space, including the provision of grass and 3G football pitches, landscaping, and construction of access to Wyverstone Road (following demolition of existing buildings). DECISION: GTD 06.11.2020”

“DECISION: PCO Officer Comment: DC/23/05194 is a non-material amendment application which seeks to vary the development description of the outline consent to alter the sporting provision. The description currently includes the provision of grass and 3G football pitches. The change has been informed by discussions with Suffolk County Council as the Education Authority and Sports England.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval because the reserved matters were broadly acceptable and the benefits outweighed the conflict over the open-market housing mix.

“The proposed affordable housing mix accords with the S106. The proposed open market mix is not consistent with the mix suggested by the SHMA. Strategic Housing considers that the discrepancy from the District-wide need has not been justified. The deviation from the District need and lack of justification results in a conflict with JLP Policy SP01 and the Housing SPD.”

“The approval of this reserved matters application would enable the delivery of this 50no. dwelling scheme. This delivery would provide a modest contribution towards the Council’s housing land supply figures, which have recently been uplifted through Government changes. The benefit of delivery can therefore be afforded moderate weight.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The agent and the ward member addressed members’ questions about design, parking, sustainability, pedestrian access, parish views and sports management.

Members’ discussion

Members debated the pitch’s location and future management, connectivity, building materials, false windows, waste storage and potential overheating.

“Members debated the application on issues including: the location of the 3G pitch within the site, the potential future use and maintenance of the pitch, and the materials of the pitch.”

“Members continued to debate the application on issues including: the connectivity of the site, the use of materials for the dwellings, and the use of false windows in the design.”

Minutes

The vote

Members unanimously supported approval after accepting the additional recommendation and conditions.

“Councillor Stringer proposed that the application be approved as detailed in the Officer recommendation, with the conditions relating to connectivity and design, and the additional recommendation from the Chief Planning Officer.”

“The Area Planning Manager confirmed the additional conditions to be applied and the wording of the additional recommendation.”

Minutes

The decision

Reserved matters were granted, subject to the existing outline permission, conditions, obligations, informatives and delegated review of national policy changes.

“That authority be delegated to the Chief Planning Officer to review any changes to national planning policy prior to the issue of the decision in consultation with the Chair of Committee and to proceed to decision where it is concluded that there has been no material change in the relevant considerations, and to revert to Committee in the event that there are material changes arising from updated national policy considerations.”

“That subject to the above that reserved matters be GRANTED subject to the following obligations, conditions and informatives and any others as may be deemed necessary by the Chief Planning Officer:”

Minutes