12 affordable homes at Formerly The Royal British Legion Millridge Way, Hartlebury

What was proposed

The application proposed demolishing the former club and building 12 affordable homes with access, open space, parking, landscaping and associated works.

“Full planning permission is sought for the demolition of the existing building and the erection of 12 dwellings with access, open space, parking, landscaping and associated works.”

Officer report

The site

The 0.51-hectare site contained a poorly maintained former social club, existing access, hedgerows and surrounding residential and agricultural land.

“The application relates to the former Royal British Legion Social Club, which is accessed off Millridge Way in Hartlebury. The site area equates to 0.51ha and comprises the existing access that serves the rear of a number of dwellinghouses (No.’s 6-14 Woodbury Close) and the former social club. The building is in a poor state of repair. The site is bounded by the south and west by agricultural land and to the…”

Officer report

Earlier decisions and consultation

The former club’s demolition needed no prior approval in 2014, while earlier engagement found the development principle broadly acceptable and public concerns focused on access and paths.

“In August 2014, the Council confirmed that prior approval was not required for the proposed demolition of the former Royal British Legion Club building (Ref: DB/14/01414/DB).”

“Pre-app had been undertaken with the Local Planning Authority under reference 19/02024/PA for the erection of 13 Residential Dwellings at the site. Officers concluded the principle of the development would be broadly acceptable, subject to other development management policies.”

Officer report

Main benefits and impacts

The scheme would provide all-affordable housing on a brownfield site, while officers judged that its harms did not significantly and demonstrably outweigh its benefits.

“In this instance it is material that the Council cannot demonstrate a 5-year supply of deliverable housing sites and therefore the Council’s policies for the supply cannot be considered up-to-date and the ‘tilted balance’ is engaged as per paragraph 11(d) of the Framework. This requires permission to be granted unless i.”

“For the reasons set out in this report, the identified harms do not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits. There are also no relevant policies in the in the Framework that protect areas or assets of particular importance provides a strong reason for refusing the development proposed. The proposal therefore represents sustainable development that meets wider aspirations of Wychavon District Council.”

Officer report

What consultees and residents said

The parish council objected over access, safety, parking, density, paths, trees and facilities, while most technical consultees raised no objection subject to conditions or obligations.

“Inadequate vehicular access especially for emergency and larger services vehicles. • Concerns with impact on highway safety. • Density of development fails to provide adequate parking for the number of units. • No visitor parking. • Site is not suitable for the proposed density of occupation given that a large proportion of space is taken up by the access road. • Footpath access from Woodbury Close to Millridge Way would be blocked.”

“Worcestershire County Council Highways: No objections subject to recommended conditions and financial obligations.”

Officer report

Objections received

Three objections cited the scale, narrow access, lack of passing places and street lighting, emergency access, overdevelopment and pressure on services and infrastructure.

“The material planning objections raised have been summarised by the case officer to include:”

“- Pathway as originally proposed within original plans show, pathway to be constructed over third party garden without agreement. - Concerns with scale of development - Concerns there is no continue path from Woodbury Road into the site - Access into Millridge Way from Waresley Court Road is a narrow single track road with safety concerns for the junction - No passing place on Millridge Way for many metres from the junction with Waresley Court Road.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The agent and another speaker spoke in support, while councillors referred to parish concerns and the proposed priority for armed forces personnel and veterans.

Committee discussion

Members welcomed the brownfield redevelopment, its quality and heritage connection, discussed street naming and sought clarity about prioritising armed forces personnel.

“Councillor E J Kearsey said that absolutely it needed to keep its heritage and would make sure as Portfolio Holder for Planning Infrastructure and Urban Design, which street naming was part of, that this was named in keeping with its heritage. She agreed with everything that Councillor Middlebrough and Councillor Adams had said although she was concerned with how this should be prioritised for armed forces personnel.”

“PC. The Head of Legal Services suggested that the recommendation should be that delegated authority be given to the Director of Planning and Infrastructure to grant planning permission subject to the completion of the S106 Agreement to secure the obligations and noting that priority be given to armed forces personnel and allowing for any amendments to the conditions as required.”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

The committee delegated authority to grant permission subject to the legal agreement, conditions, armed forces priority and a reasonable promotion timescale.

“To delegate authority to the Director of Planning and Infrastructure to grant planning permission subject to the completion of a S106 legal agreement to secure the obligations and planning conditions listed in the report, allowing for any subsequent amendments to the obligations and planning conditions as required by the Director of Planning and Infrastructure and also that priority be given to armed forces personnel and that a reasonable timescale be given for promotion.”

Minutes