59 dwellings at Land At (Os 9265 4891), Stonebow Road, Drakes Broughton

The site

The application concerned land beside Stonebow Road, and members had visited the site.

“W/25/01931/OUT. Land At (Os 9265 4891), Stonebow Road, Drakes Broughton. Outline application for the erection of 59 no. dwellings including 24 no. affordable homes - all matters reserved except for access. [name withheld]…”

“(Councillor J Butterworth, Chairman of Drakes Broughton & Wadborough with Pirton Parish Council spoke against approval of this application.)”

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What officers recommended

Officers maintained their recommendation for approval after considering highway access and the proposed biodiversity net gain strategy.

“In response to this, the applicant has submitted a Biodiversity Net Gain Strategy Statement, which sets out the on-site baseline conditions and the BNG needed to meet the statutory 10% net gain requirement.”

“It is explained that as the application is in outline, it is not possible to state exactly how the 10% BNG would be delivered. However, it is explained that the strategy is to deliver the BNG partially on-site and partially off-site. It is stated that the intention for this development is for biodiversity gains to be on the applicant’s own land, directly adjacent to the proposed development site.”

Officer report

Objections raised

A further objection raised concerns about road curvature, visibility splays and two recent vehicle accidents.

“A further letter of objection has been received setting out highway safety concerns. In particular, concerns are raised regarding the curvature of Stonebow Road in the vicinity of the proposed site access and the extent of available visibility splays for both the vehicular access and pedestrian crossing points.”

“It is also stated that there have been two recent vehicle accidents on Stonebow Road, which have not been addressed in the Committee report.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The parish council chairman and an objector spoke against approving the application.

Members’ debate

Members discussed highway safety, accidents, footpaths, open countryside, development boundaries, housing targets and local congestion.

“Councillor M K Ward stated that the site was outside the development boundary and in open countryside and should therefore be considered as an exception site. The Development Manager responded that because of the housing land supply position basically any sites in sustainable locations around the existing built forms of our settlements are under this sort of development pressure.”

“The Local Member, Councillor R C Adams, sat out of the committee for this item and stated that he took no pleasure from doing so and ask the members to be consistent as they had with other applications at Drakes Broughton and oppose this application. He had highway concerns, this site would be close to Parkway station so did we need this. He also stated that good agricultural land should be protected.”

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The vote

Members rejected refusal by five votes to seven, then approved the application by seven votes to five.

“A motion to refuse the application was first proposed by Councillor L Robinson which was seconded by Councillor A M Rowley. The reasons being that it was contrary to SWDP 25 (landscape character and element of harm), SWDP 21 (design and overdevelopment), SWDP 4 and 21 and DBWP 9 (highways), SWDP 2 and DBWP1 being outside the development boundary and the technical reason of not having a completed s106 agreement and that the final wording of the reasons for refusal be…”

“A vote to refuse the application was taken first which was lost with 5 votes for the motion and 7 votes against. A vote for approval was then taken in line with the Officer’s recommendation and this motion was carried with 7 votes for approval and 5 against.”

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The decision

Authority was delegated to grant permission after completion of a legal agreement securing obligations and planning conditions.

“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:”

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Key requirements

The approval included affordable housing, education, healthcare, open space, sports, highways and biodiversity obligations.

“PC. 05.03.26 40% affordable housing (71% Social Rent and 29% Shared Ownership)”

“Public Open Space to be provided on site to include play facilities.”

Minutes