Agenda item

UTT/20/2220/DFO - Land West of Woodside Way, DUNMOW

To consider application UTT/20/2220/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 326 residential dwellings, following the grant of outline planning permission in October 2015 under reference UTT/13/2107/OP.

 

The site comprises the northern parcels of the site at Woodside Way, and is currently formed of 3 agricultural fields, measuring 23.26ha or 57.48 acres. The proposed dwellings as stated would be a mix of 1-5-bedroom units, with 32% affordable housing provision, indicating a mix of shared ownership and affordable rent, as approved as part of the s106 Agreement. 5% wheelchair accessible M4(3) bungalows would be provided for both the market and affordable housing provision, as per the Section 106 Agreement.

 

The development would also provide public open space including 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 questions from the committee, officers clarified:

·         Planning Conditions, including a Construction Management Plan, were agreed and set out in the Outline Planning Permission. This application was to agree details relating to layout, scale, landscaping and appearance.

·         Essex County Council Highways raised no objections to the application; however, the applicant was having ongoing discussions with the department about the impact which this development would have on Stortford Road.

·         The children’s play areas would be located in the central spine area and to the east of the site. The locations were sited along the route of an existing pipeline which was not fit for development and was also accessible to nearby footpaths.

·         Every property would have an electric charging point; however, the charging unit would not be provided. The applicant explained that this was due to a changing market and that not all residents would want one. They highlighted that government grants were available for individuals to buy the units at a lower price.

·         Water Butts would not be installed at every property but would be provided in the allotment which would be considered as a separate application. Further details would be set out in the s106 agreement.

·         The 2-bedroom property, located above a garage, would be given use of the garage, as well as an additional parking space to the side.

·         Once this application had been approved, development would commence. Currently, only the building of the spine road had commenced. When the development had been completed, it would contribute to the districts housing supply numbers.

·         The proposed bungalows did have permitted development rights; however, owners would need to apply for planning permission in order to substantially extend or demolish them to replace them with larger houses. Members raised concerns about the protection of bungalows both on the development and in the district as a whole.

 

The Chair noted that the developer had stated in a recent publication that the Council’s policy on affordable housing was 32%, she clarified that the policy was actually 40%.   

 

Members welcomed the developer’s collaboration with the community to produce an application which was sensitive to nature and provided suitable housing to address housing need in the area.

 

Councillor Fairhurst proposed that the application be approved. This was seconded by Councillor Coote.

 

RESOLVED to approve the application with conditions.

 

Speakers: Councillor M Coleman (Mayor of Great Dunmow Town Council) and R Houghton (applicant) spoke in support of the application

 

The meeting adjourned at 11:19 and reconvened at 11:30

 

Councillor Le Count left the meeting at 11:30

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