Issue - meetings

To consider application UTT/20/2148/DFO.

The Planning Officer presented a reserved matters application relating to the consideration of scale, layout, appearance and landscaping following the grant of outline planning permission UTT/17/3556/OP for the demolition of all commercial buildings and removal of commercial storage at Priory Lodge and the erection of 8 detached dwellings together with modification of the existing vehicular access to Priory Lodge. The DFO application as submitted had deleted one dwelling unit from the outline approved scheme and the application is now for 7 dwellings.

The application was recommended for approval with conditions.

Members raised concerns around the impact that the development would have on the adjacent Fitch Way and potential contamination of the Stebbing Brook. Officers clarified that there were biodiversity conditions in place, such as replacing any plants which die within the first five years of the development’s completion. Furthermore, the applicant had included a 5-metre exclusion zone on the northern limit of the dwellings which would create a buffer zone to protect the Fitch Way. 

During further discussion, members requested the following conditions be added, should the application be approved:

·         No pedestrian gates or other form of gates to be installed along the Flitch Way Buffer Zone, located on the northern boundary of the site.

·         Prior to occupation of any of the dwellings, a stewardship arrangement for the ongoing maintenance of all communal areas be set up and retained on a permanent basis.

·         Any plants which within a period of ten years from the completion of the development die, are removed or become seriously damaged or diseased shall be replaced.

Councillor Fairhurst proposed that the application be approved with the above conditions. This was seconded by Councillor Merifield.

RESOLVED to approve the application with conditions.

Speakers: S Drury (on behalf of the applicant) and M Tuff (agent) spoke in support of the application.

Councillor Freeman joined the meeting 14:50. Due to not hearing the item in full, he did not vote on the item.