55-home development at Land Rear Of Sefton Station Road, Harvington

What was proposed

The application proposed up to 55 homes with open space, landscaping and infrastructure, reduced from an original proposal for 58 homes.

“The application proposes the erection of 55 dwellings with associated open space, landscaping and infrastructure. It should be noted that this has been reduced from 58 dwellings, which was originally proposed. It is proposed that the main vehicular access would be taken from Crest Hill, just to the west of the Evesham Road/Crest Hill junction. A pedestrian, cycle and emergency access via an upgraded field access onto Station Road is also proposed.”

Officer report

The site and its setting

The 4.16-hectare site is a hedged arable field beyond Harvington’s settlement boundary, near homes, playing fields, a farmstead and a public footpath.

“The site comprises a single parcel of land, measuring approximately 4.16ha, situated to the southeast of Harvington. The site sits just beyond the settlement boundary for Harvington, with the main village centre located approximately 0.65 kilometres away. The site is bound by existing residential properties along Station Road to the southwest and Crest Hill to the southeast. To the west of the site is Harvington playing fields.”

“The Site measures 4.16 hectares (ha) and is located north-east of the village of Harvington, approximately 5km north of Evesham. It comprises a large arable field enclosed by hedgerow and scrub, with residential curtilages along the southern and eastern boundary. A Public Right of Way (Prow), 506(c), runs from east to west along the northern boundary of the site.”

Officer report

Planning history

There was no planning history directly relevant to this proposal, and the applicant held an informal meeting with the parish and community.

“There is no planning history that is directly relevant to this current proposal.”

“The applicant undertook an informal meeting with the Parish Council and local community for the proposed development on the 7th of December 2023, at the local village hall. The feedback provided to the applicant is set out in the submitted Statement of Community Involvement.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended delegated approval subject to a legal agreement and conditions, concluding that the development’s benefits outweighed its identified harms.

“With the ‘tilted balance’ engaged, it is considered that the harms identified would not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of the scheme and accordingly approval is recommended.”

“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, allowing for any subsequent amendments to the obligations and planning conditions as required by the Director of Planning and Infrastructure:”

Officer report

Who spoke

A parish council representative and a resident spoke against approval, while the agent spoke in favour; a site visit had taken place.

What members debated

Members discussed landscape, open-space management, bungalows, green infrastructure, drainage, highway safety, access responsibility, archaeology and the Neighbourhood Plan.

“The Planning Committee members asked a number of questions of the speakers to clarify issues particularly in relation to the landscape, the management of the open space, the position and number of the bungalows, the % of the green infrastructure that is for open space and recreational and drainage issues.”

“Councillor E J Kearsey said that everything she said for the first application on the agenda stood for this one and she understood the importance of the Neighbourhood Plans and the work that went into them and could therefore understand the frustration and concern which was felt by the committee every month. Councillor Kearsey had concerns around the green infrastructure but felt there was nothing they could do other than approve.”

Minutes