130 homes at Land East Of Old Mead Road, Henham

What was proposed

The application sought 130 homes, including affordable housing, access, parking, open space, landscaping, infrastructure and safeguarded primary-school expansion land.

“PROPOSAL: Application for 130 Residential Dwellings (use Class C3) including affordable housing, access, car parking, new areas of open space, landscaping, infrastructure, along with the safeguarding of future primary school expansion land (use class F1) and associated works.”

Officer report

Why officers supported it

Officers considered the site a suitable, reasonably sustainable edge-of-settlement location and found that the benefits outweighed the adverse impacts.

“By reason of the development proposing a residential scheme in a rural context there are adverse impacts of the development. However, Officers are of the view that the location of the site is suitable for development due to the surrounding residential developments to the…”

“The Council does not have a 5 Year Housing Land Supply and the adverse impacts of the scheme have been assessed in the context of the presumption in favour of sustainable development. Consequently, it has been concluded that the benefits outweigh the adverse impacts of the scheme.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

Highways and flood officers raised no objections subject to requirements, while airport, environmental and other consultees supported mitigation and conditions.

“No objections, subject to conditions and highways financial contributions.”

“No objections, subject to appropriate mitigation measures secured through either/or planning conditions or planning obligations.”

Officer report

Objections and concerns

Parish councils and residents objected over traffic, access, infrastructure, facilities, flooding, landscape, ecology, affordable housing and overdevelopment.

“- Combined with phases 1 and 2, if approved, the development will constitute a 679 residential development and a serious overdevelopment of the area - The road network surrounding the development site is wholly inadequate (the exit road form Elsenham through Stanstead Mountfitchet is a major block with narrow single file road governed by traffic lights) - There are existing traffic delays - Existing facilities in of Henham are of a small scale with no reasonable bus,…”

“School) to the junction of Crocus Drive and Ivy Way (near the northern end LEAP) and other routes are not accurate - The walking route times are excessive - The junction is from B1051 via Crocus Drive with constrained access / this junction is within Elsenham parish and Elsenham Parish Council are concerned with its safety and further development should not be approved - There is a need for a village shop / store and an area should be proposed for employment opportunities -…”

Officer report

Who spoke

A parish council representative spoke against the application, while the applicant spoke in support.

What members discussed

Members discussed garden sizes, the additional homes compared with the emerging plan, access, schools, contributions, parking and affordable-housing distribution.

“Members discussed: • The size of the gardens. • Their concerns that Elsenham Parish would gain 130 new dwellings as against the proposed 110 in the Emerging Local Plan. Officers explained…”

Minutes

Decision and conditions

Members authorised permission subject to a legal agreement and conditions, with refusal authorised if the agreement was not completed within six months.

“RESOLVED that the Strategic Director of Planning be authorised to grant permission for the development subject to those items set out in section 17 of the report- A) Completion of a s106 Obligation Agreement in accordance with the Heads of Terms as set out; and B) Conditions…”

“And If the freehold owner shall fail to enter into such an agreement, the Strategic Director of Planning shall be authorised to refuse permission following the expiration of a 6-month period from the date of Planning Committee.”

Minutes