80 dwellings at Land East of Normanton Road, Crowland

The site and surroundings

The 3.48-hectare allocated site lies within Crowland’s settlement boundary, beside housing to the south and west and agricultural land to the north.

“The proposed scheme includes pedestrian access from Normanton Road, with a continued footpath along the main highway road terminating at the edge lanes. An attenuation basin is located to the north-east of the site. Landscaping proposed includes the retention of existing planting, alongside the introduction of new hedging and trees to site boundaries, producing wildlife corridors to both the southern and western boundaries.”

“The application site is located within Flood Zone 3 of the Environment Agency's Flood Maps and is within the "danger for most/danger for all" classification within the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment, with flood depths expected to reach between 0.5m to 2m. The site is neighboured by existing residential development to the south and west.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval because the allocated site was suitable for housing and the planning balance favoured the homes, affordable housing and biodiversity gains.

“It is not considered that the recommendation in this case interferes with local residents' right to respect for their private and family life, home and correspondence, except insofar as it is necessary to protect the rights and freedoms of others (in this case, the rights of the applicant).”

“Furthermore, the development would deliver positive gains in terms of BNG provision which is afforded positive weight in the planning balance. In this regard, when considering the benefits of the proposal in that the development seeks to provide an additional 80 dwellings within a site purposefully allocated for residential development, it is considered that the planning balance is in favour of the development, being a suitable, appropriately designed and sustainable…”

Officer report

Who spoke

A supporter representing the applicant and a resident objector made oral representations to the committee.

What members discussed

Members discussed road adoption, refuse collection, foul water, flood levels, construction traffic, alternative access, the housing allocation and wildlife-corridor management.

“Members expressed concern about foul water disposal, noting that an earlier objection from Anglian Water had been withdrawn. o Officers explained that Anglian Water had reassessed capacity within the wastewater network and confirmed sufficient headroom existed to accommodate the development. Foul water was proposed to connect to the existing system on Normanton Road.”

“Refusal on the basis that the site allocation had been exceeded elsewhere would be unlikely to be defensible at appeal. • Members queried why a sequential test had not been carried out for this site. o It was confirmed that no sequential test was required as the site formed part of the Local Plan allocations. • Members raised concerns regarding construction traffic, dust, noise and the suitability of routing works vehicles through existing residential streets.”

Minutes

The committee vote

The application was approved, and one councillor asked for a vote against the application to be recorded.

“Councillor Brewis requested that his vote against the application to be recorded in the minutes.”

“That the application be approved for the reasons set out at section 9.0 of the report, including the addition of a condition relating to a management plan for the wildlife corridor (should this not already be covered in existing conditions), and subject to the completion of a Section 106 Agreement securing the necessary financial contributions and affordable housing provision set out within the report above.”

Minutes