Agenda and minutes

Public Speaking: To register your intention to speak at a Council, Cabinet or Committee meeting, please contact Democratic Services on committee@uttlesford.gov.uk or 01799 510410, 510548, 510369 or 510460. Panel, Forum and Working Group meetings do not generally permit public speaking. Please refer to a specific meeting's pdf agenda pack for further information and registration deadlines.

Live Broadcast: For Council, Cabinet and Committee meetings the video player will be available on this page under the Media banner a few minutes before the meeting is due to begin. Please note that Panel, Board, Forum and Working Group meetings are not generally broadcast on the website. We believe that live streaming video of our formal decision making meetings, and publishing the recordings to be watched back later, is good for democracy – and you can find these videos on our website. This video technology sits alongside the longstanding practice of providing seats in the public gallery for members of the public and journalists to turn up and watch our in-person meetings live. Please understand that whilst we will continue to make every reasonable effort to ensure that our key public meetings at which important decisions are live streamed and recorded, any failure in that technology does not in any way invalidate the legitimacy of that meeting or of the decisions taken at it. Even in the event of such occasional technical failures, the public gallery will still have been open, as required by law, and the minutes of the meetings will still be made available in due course.

Zoom and YouTube have their own privacy and data security policies, which can be accessed at www.zoom.us and www.youtube.com.

Venue: Zoom - https://zoom.us/. View directions

Contact: Democratic Services  Email: committee@uttlesford.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

PC1

Apologies for Absence and Declarations of Interest

To receive any apologies for absence and declarations of interest.

Minutes:

There were no apologies for absence.

 

Councillor Fairhurst declared a non-pecuniary interest as a member of Saffron Walden Town Council/ Ward Councillor for Saffron Walden (Agenda Item 4).

 

Councillor Freeman declared a non-pecuniary interest as a member of Saffron Walden Town Council/ Ward Councillor for Saffron Walden (Agenda Item 4).

 

Councillor Coote declared a non-pecuniary interest as a member of Saffron Walden Town Council/ Ward Councillor for Saffron Walden (Agenda Item 4).

 

Councillor Reeve declared a non-pecuniary interest as a member of igh EaHighHigh Easter Parish Council (Agenda Item 6).

 

PC2

Minutes of the Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 237 KB

To consider the minutes of the previous meeting.

Minutes:

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 17 February 2021 were agreed and would be signed by the Chair as an accurate record at the next opportunity.

 

Councillor Caton said that minute PC97 and the Chair’s statement in the final paragraph were not clear.  It was agreed that the final sentence would be removed after the clarification that the Council’s policy was 40%. 

 

PC3

UTT/20/3419/DFO - Land West of Woodside Way, GREAT DUNMOW pdf icon PDF 623 KB

To consider application UTT/20/3419/DFO.

Minutes:

The Principal Planning Officer presented an application for the Approval of Reserved Matters for the details of layout, scale, landscaping and appearance to provide 464 residential dwellings and associated infrastructure works. 

 

He said that the site comprised the southern parcel of the site at Woodside Way, and was currently formed of 3 agricultural fields, measuring 26.1ha or 64.5 acres.  An oil pipeline crossed through the site and the responsibility for maintenance would be with the management company.

 

The amount of high density development (30 to 40 dwellings per hectare) had been reduced from what was consented at the outline stage and that which remained had shifted away from the Stortford Road frontage, whilst a much larger area covered by the lowest density development (15 to 25 dwellings per hectare), had been located along the western edge, adjacent High Wood, and along the Stortford Road frontage so as to reduce the apparent density of the development.

 

The proposed dwellings would be a mix of 1-4-bedroom units, with affordable

housing provision, indicating a mix of shared ownership and affordable rents as approved as part of the s106 Agreement. 36 units (8%) would be provided as homes suitable for the elderly, comprising 16 bungalows and 20 ground floor maisonettes.

 

The development would provide public open space within the heart of the development, together with tree and hedgerow planting, habitat creation, including natural and semi-natural green space, children’s and youth play areas, allotments, pitch quality ground, including sports pavilions, and an area set aside for a Primary School.

 

The application was recommended for approval with conditions.

 

In response to Members questions, Officers clarified the following:-

 

  • The overall site had initial planning for 790 dwellings in the 2005 Local Plan which was subsequently divided into north and south parcels.  This application was for 464 dwellings on the southern parcel owned by Bellway.
  • The owners of the oil pipeline were satisfied with the layout and were ultimately responsible for the pipeline, not the local authority.
  • A note would be added to the conditions to ensure that similar sized replacement trees would be provided. 
  • The Council’s Tree Officer had been involved and sanctioned the removal of some trees on the site. Members requested that the applicant try to increase the number of trees from the 400 suggested to at least one tree per dwelling.
  • Highways were on board with the scheme subject to conditions as set out in the report.  The scheme was policy compliant, providing 1100 car parking spaces which included visitors parking. 
  • All utilities had been checked for sufficient provision.
  • Confirmation was given that the buffer was 23 metres from the physical houses to the edge of Highwood all the way round the site.
  • It was important to remember that the quality of the scheme was good and had the involvement and co-operation of the Community.

 

Members expressed disappointment that only 32% of affordable housing had previously been agreed.  Councillor Freeman suggested that it was unrealistic to ask for 50% affordable homes on the northern  ...  view the full minutes text for item PC3

PC4

UTT/19/1744/OP - Former Friends School, Mount Pleasant Road, SAFFRON WALDEN pdf icon PDF 2 MB

To consider application UTT/19/1744/OP.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Principal Planning Officer said that the application was a hybrid application consisting of full details for the development of 30 dwellings utilising existing access, re-provision of swimming pool with new changing rooms, artificial grass pitches, sports pavilion, multi-use games area (MUGA), local equipped area for play (LEAP), local area for play (LAP), associated parking and demolition of gym building. The remainder was in outline for up to 70 dwellings with associated

infrastructure, public open space, forest school and perimeter path.

 

He said there were a number of amendments to the report:-

  • The scheme would provide 40% affordable housing across the whole scheme.
  • Essex County Council Highways no longer objected to the application subject to mitigation outlined in the addendum.
  • DS1 and GA3 within the planning policy did not apply to this application.

 

These amendments did not change the recommendation of the report to refuse the application.

 

The 30 dwellings proposed include for 12 x 2 bedroom apartments in one block at the entrance to the site and 18 x 3 bedroom houses in the remaining 4 blocks.

 

The application does not include the former school buildings although they are owned by the applicant.

 

The scheme was recommended for refusal.

 

In response to a Member’s question, the Development Manager clarified that approval could not only be given to one part of the application but that it had to be for the whole scheme.

 

Although Members agreed there were some good points to the application they expressed the following concerns:-

  • It was a highly controversial site that needed careful consideration.
  • Questions were raised about the sustainability and whether it was in keeping with the local area.
  • There had been insufficient consultation with the Town Council and the local community.
  • Inefficient use of land.
  • Air quality issues.
  • Significant burden on the NHS and schools.
  • The utilitarian nature of the buildings and the flat roof of black felt were raised as issues.  Councillor Freeman said the roofs should either be green or reflective to enable better energy performance.
  • The increase in traffic out of a small turning.
  • There had been insufficient attention and sympathy to the historic background of the school.
  • The fact that the school buildings had not been included in the application. Members agreed there should be a masterplan for the whole site.

 

Members asked that in future Officers always looked for an education provision and it was suggested that a hybrid scheme would always throw up too many issues and should not be put forward.

 

Councillor Sutton proposed that the application be refused on the basis of the 8 recommendations in the report and a note made that there should be consultation and engagement with the Town Council and Local Community.

 

Councillor Fairhurst seconded the motion.

 

RESOLVED to refuse the application.

 

A Ward (applicant) spoke in support of the application

C Ewing and J Dwyer spoke against the application

 

PC5

UTT/19/1789/FUL - Land At Pound Hill, LITTLE DUNMOW pdf icon PDF 615 KB

To consider application UTT/19/1789/FUL.

Minutes:

The Senior Planning Officer said that the application was for residential development comprising 14 dwellings (use class C3), vehicular access, public open space, sustainable drainage systems and all other associated hard/soft landscaping and infrastructure.

 

The development would include 4 detached dwellings (one of which would be affordable), 8 semi-detached dwellings and 2  horizontally divided flats in a detached dwelling (both of which would be affordable). 

 

A landscaped area would be laid out around the proposed attenuation basin

at the western end of the development which would also serve as a public open

space feature whereby the provision of open space and its management would

form part of any S106 agreement.

 

There would be residential parking for each dwelling except for the ground

floor flat for Plot 13 which had been amended to be a 2 bedroomed accessible flat rather than the 1 bedroomed flat that was originally proposed.  There would be 9 visitor parking spaces.  

 

The application was recommended for approval with conditions with S106 Agreement.

 

In response to Members’ questions, Officers clarified the following:-

  • There was a condition within the application in relation to electrical charging points.
  • Trees had been added to soften the site frontage and a structured tree belt onto the southern boundary.
  • It was confirmed that the outline planning application had not lapsed and a developer could not revert to the 18 houses in the outline planning application without coming back to the Committee.
  • The Parish Council’s five concerns had all been addressed and they had withdrawn their objections.  This had been confirmed by Councillor Criscione but Members would have preferred something in writing from the Parish Council.
  • The open space was around the attenuation basin and related to the visual impact rather than providing extra public space. 

 

Councillor Coote said that more open space should be looked at with future developments as the residents were likely to be families with children.

 

Councillor Lemon proposed that the application be approved with conditions with S106 Agreement.

 

The Chair seconded the motion.

 

RESOLVED to approve the application with conditions with S106 Agreement.

 

 J Bean (agent) spoke in favour of the application.

 

The meeting adjourned at 1:18pm and reconvened at 1:25pm

 

PC6

UTT/20/3016/FUL - Land R/O Malt Place, Cornells Lane, WIDDINGTON - WITHDRAWN pdf icon PDF 7 MB

Application UTT/20/3016/FUL has been withdrawn.

 

Reason: to allow the further consideration of a recent legal judgement related to a development of this nature.

 

 

Minutes:

This item was withdrawn from the agenda due to a legal issue that needed to be resolved.

 

PC7

UTT/21/0158/FUL - Homely, The Street, HIGH EASTER pdf icon PDF 526 KB

To consider application UTT/21/0158/FUL.

Minutes:

The Planning Officer said that the proposal was seeking Section 73A Retrospective application for the demolitionof the existing property and planning permission for proposed erection of a new3-bedroom, 1.5 storey dwelling

with associated off street parking.

 

The site was located at the edge of the village and was within the High Easter

Conservation Area.

 

The application was recommended for approval with conditions.

 

The Development Manager said that the demolition of the original building in a conservation area could constitute a criminal offence but the application should be considered separately.  The Committee would not be sanctioning that action if they approved the application.

 

Members expressed the following concerns:-

  • There was dissatisfaction that the agent had implied that if the application was approved the appeal would be withdrawn.
  • There had been no communication with the Parish Council.
  • The application had not changed from the previous application that had been refused in December 2020.
  • The proposed dwelling was overbearing and not in keeping with the conservation area.
  • The need for vehicles to reverse either in or out of the drive to gain access to the property.

 

In response to Councillor Fairhurst requesting advice on the legality of making this decision on the basis of retrospective approval for demolition of the property, the Committee adjourned at 1:59pm to review the legal position.

 

The meeting resumed at 2:05pm.

 

The Chair proposed to defer the application for further legal opinion.

 

Councillor Bagnall seconded the motion.

 

RESOLVED to defer the application. 

 

Reason: To seek further legal advice on the application.

 

 

Councillor R Lodge (High Easter Parish Council) spoke against the application.

D Hyde (agent) spoke in favour of the application.

 

 

PC8

UTT/20/3473/FUL - East Cottage, Thaxted Road, WIMBISH pdf icon PDF 458 KB

To consider application UTT/20/3473/FUL.

Minutes:

The Planning Officer said that the application was for a proposed change of use from garden to paddock, fencing and erection of stable block. He said it was proposed to use land outside the curtilage of the house to build a small

wooden, permanent stable block on hardstanding, comprising of two proprietary

type looseboxes. This would be located in the space between the car port and

dilapidated piggery.

 

The application also asked for consent for the change of use from garden to paddock grazing land across an area of approximately 6600 square metres, which left the moat areas and garden directly adjacent to the house untouched.

 

The matter had been referred to the Committee as the applicant worked for the Council.

 

The application was recommended for approval with conditions.

 

In response to Members’ questions, Officers clarified the following:-

  • Each application would be assessed separately;  there was no reason why this application for an equestrian dwelling would then make it easier to apply in future to turn the stables into housing. 
  • The application for equine use was appropriate and horses were part of the countryside and village life.

 

 

Councillor Loughlin proposed that the application be approved with conditions.

 

Councillor Pavitt seconded the motion.

 

RESOLVED to approve the application with conditions.

 

 

Meeting Closed at 2:30pm