Up to 35 homes at Land At (Os 0582 4619), Three Cocks Lane, Offenham

What was proposed

The application sought outline permission for up to 35 dwellings.

“Proposal: Outline application for the erection of up to 35 dwellings…”

Officer report

The site

The application concerned land at Three Cocks Lane, Offenham.

“Planning Committee - 25 June 2026 UPDATES ITEM: MAJOR APP Planning Ref: Site: Ward Councillor Recommendation W/25/00046/OUT Land At (Os 0582 4619) Three Cocks Lane Offenham Cllr Matthew Winfield Approval…”

Officer report

Officers’ assessment

The affordable housing proposal was policy compliant, with all affordable homes to be delivered on site.

“Policy SWDPR 19 Meeting Affordable Housing Needs E. 70% of the affordable housing shall be Social Rented, and the remaining 30% shall be for affordable home ownership, unless it can be demonstrated that this mix is not viable or local need has demonstrated a need for a different affordable housing tenure for the site. G.”

“This has been confirmed with the developer as being a policy compliant proposal in accordance with SWDPR 19 and all affordable housing to be delivered on site.”

Officer report

Infrastructure and contributions

The proposal included affordable housing and financial contributions for healthcare, education, biodiversity, community transport and school transport.

“I have used the Verna Calculator to get the monitoring fee for the site (that being one where the total area of enhanced habitat is between 1 and 5ha and over 70% being medium distinctiveness) and the fee comes to £15,182. Community Transport There is a need for a Community Transport service to meet the transport needs of the elderly and disabled.”

“School Transport In terms of school transport, the site is located close to Offenham C of E First School and the walking route is considered to be acceptable. The site is approximately 2.2 miles from Blackminster Middle School. This route is considered to have insufficient pedestrian infrastructure for it to be deemed a safe walking environment for students.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The Chairman of Offenham Parish Council spoke against approval, while another speaker spoke for approval.

Members’ views

Members discussed agricultural land, countryside location, infill, infrastructure, trees, hedgerows, drainage, biodiversity and public open space.

“The Planning Officer explained that in the indicative layout, the public open space to the south had been created to encourage the joining of the adjacent public open space to the neighbouring development to form a critical mass of more usable green space. Furthermore, the layout proposed connectivity of public rights of way between the connecting sites.”

“The Local Member, Councillor M Winfield, was not in favour of the proposal. He stated that the development would be contra to SWDPR03 being set in the open countryside and would not fall into any exceptional category under which development could be permitted. He did not agree that the proposal would constitute infill development. He believed that the proposed development would not be compatible with section 4.72 of the newly approved design code.”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

The committee resolved to delegate authority to grant permission subject to a legal agreement, conditions and updates concerning trees, hedgerows and drainage.

“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 the planning conditions listed, allowing for any subsequent amendments to the obligations and planning conditions as required by the Director of Planning and Infrastructure and to include the written and verbal updates to committee and in particular to conditions 6 and 23 with regard to existing…”

Minutes