21 homes at Land South Of 88 West Street, Chatteris

What was proposed

The application proposed 21 two-storey homes, access works, parking, landscaping, attenuation ponds and demolition of existing buildings.

“Erect 21 x dwellings (4 x 2-storey 2-bed, 15 x 2-storey 3-bed & 2 x 2-storey 4-bed) with associated access works, parking and landscaping, and the formation of attenuation ponds, involving the demolition of existing buildings.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The site contained commercial buildings, hardstanding, informal storage and paddock land beside West Street, with a drain and flood-risk areas to the west.

“The site consists of 3 large commercial type buildings constructed in block and what appears to be asbestos with lean-tos linking the buildings, in front of which is a gravel and concrete hardstanding area and to the rear and side an area of informal storage.”

“The eastern side of the site is located in Environment Agency Flood Zone 1, sloping west into Flood Zones 2 and 3. Areas of high, medium and low surface water flood risk are located along the drain to the western boundary, with a further area to the front of the existing buildings of site, adjacent to the public byway.”

Officer report

Officers’ recommendation

Officers recommended approval because the development remained acceptable in other respects and infrastructure contributions were considered more beneficial than two isolated affordable homes.

“The proposal results in a clear shortfall in affordable housing provision and a limited shortfall in infrastructure contributions. These harms attract substantial and moderate negative weight respectively.”

“However, the viability evidence has been independently reviewed and demonstrates that full policy compliance would render the scheme undeliverable. In such circumstances, whereby the principle of development has been accepted, some contribution towards infrastructure is preferable to none. In this instance, securing £186,500 would provide wider and more immediate community benefit than the delivery of 2 affordable units in isolation and without supporting infrastructure.”

Officer report

Residents’ comments

Eleven individual objections and a 167-person petition raised concerns including traffic, flooding, drainage, ecology, amenity, character, construction and overdevelopment.

“Appendix1 - 8 - • Flood risk • Lack of sewage capacity • Loss of open space and consequent impact on ecology and environment • Loss of open space used as public recreation facility • Outside built form of settlement and out of character with the area • Amenity issues including overlooking • Over development with adverse visual impact • Light pollution • Loss of agricultural land • No material change from previous decision • Ecology surveys outside breeding season •…”

Officer report

Who spoke

The agent explained the viability options and supported retaining infrastructure contributions instead of providing two affordable homes.

Members’ debate

Members discussed affordable housing, education, health provision and whether the NHS contribution could be restored to its original requested amount.

“Members asked questions of [name withheld] as follows: • Councillor Mrs French asked for an explanation on the difference between offering £186,000 against building two affordable dwellings? [name withheld] responded that the actual amount in terms of difference is in the officer’s report, but from their point of view it does not make any difference in terms of actual numbers because the calculation is a specific figure and how that specific figure is spent, is it spent on a combination of…”

“He asked if it is possible that the amount can be raised back to the original request? The Legal Officer stated it is what extra funds are required by these extra 21 dwellings and that has been assessed at £18,000 so committee could ask that this amount be allocated. • Councillor Mrs French formally requested that the NHS be given what they originally requested.”

Minutes

The committee vote

The committee agreed the application should be granted in line with the officer recommendation, with an increased NHS contribution.

“Proposed by Councillor Mrs French, seconded by Councillor Benney and agreed that the application be GRANTED as per the officer’s recommendation but that the Section 106 Agreement contribution to the NHS be increased to the original request of £18,000.”

Minutes

Conditions and legal agreement

Approval required completion of the Section 106 agreement, planning conditions and authority for officers to finalise the agreement and conditions.

“The Committee delegates authority to finalise the terms and completion of the Section 106 legal agreement and planning conditions (proposed draft conditions are included below) to the Head of Planning; and…”

“Following the completion of the Section 106, application F/YR23/1033/F be approved subject to the draft planning conditions set out below…”

Officer report