Issue - meetings

To consider application UTT/20/0422/FUL.

The Development Manager presented an application for the erection of 12 dwellings including new access, associated landscaping and the creation of a parking area for the adjacent playing field.

This application related to a parcel of land of 0.6 ha adjacent to the existing housing developments of Broomfields and Cox Ley. The land is located directly to the north of the development limits of Hatfield Heath, within the Metropolitan Green Belt.

The application was recommended for approval with conditions.

In response to members’ questions, officers clarified the following:

·         Hatfield Heath Parish Council conducted a housing need survey which identified a serious need for affordable housing. The development would meet the demand and the first nominations would be offered to residents of Hatfield Heath, cascading to neighbouring parishes where applicable.

·         The Parish Council’s housing survey had identified at least 20 individuals in need of affordable housing, therefore there would be enough local people to occupy all the properties.

·         The Parish Council had enquired about at least 6 other sites for an affordable housing development, however landowners refused to give away their sites.

·         The site was classed as an exception site and would only be used for the 10 affordable rent homes. The two market dwellings were proposed to cross subsidise the cost of delivery.

·         There were existing drainage issues in Hatfield Heath, but it is not a requirement for the developer to address this. An application would have to improve general drainage, which this application does, according to the local flood authority.

·         The football pitch adjacent to the site would be retained but would be relocated away from the development.

·         The properties would be built to the PassivHaus standard.

The committee debated the need to balance the views of the Parish Council with the opinion of residents in the community. Members indicated that they were unable to make a fair assessment of the application without a site visit to assess the impact on the surrounding area.

Councillor Fairhurst proposed that the application be deferred so that a site visit could be conducted. This was seconded by Councillor Coote. 

RESOLVED to defer the application

Speakers: N Lines, D Graves, M Stewart, P Danbury and L Leicester spoke against the application and S Robinson and N Hooper both spoke on behalf of the applicant in support of the application.

Meeting adjourned 13:48 and reconvened 14:37