Agenda item

The erection of 247 dwellings, landscaping and associated infrastructure. An Environmental Statement was submitted with the outline application (as amended by drawings accompanying letter from Agent dated 29 September 2014 & 16 October 2014).

Denise Macdonald, a local ward councillor, stepped down from the committee and took no part in the debate or voting on this item.

The committee considered application P14/S1778/RM to erect 247 dwellings, landscaping and associated infrastructure on parcel DN03BCD of Great Western Park, Didcot.

The officer summarised further feedback received since the publication of the agenda from the following:

• Didcot Town Council have withdrawn their objection;
• Harwell Parish Council are now largely satisfied with primary school drop-off arrangements , which have been amended by the County Council, adding a condition to provide onsite drop-off should numbers at the primary school increase;
• Oxfordshire County Council Highways team have no objections to the amended plans;
• The Vale Housing Team have no objections to the amended plans;
• The landscape architect and tree officer require amendments to the Arboricultural method statement;
• The dwelling numbers on the application have increased from 247 to 248 as a result of amended plans; and
• Six additional letters of objection from residents have been received over the amended plans, concerning the following:
  • Rear parking courts resulting in security concerns and noise impact;
  • The houses are in high density and too close to the boundary;
  • They were promised no social housing adjacent to the existing houses; and
  • Boundary treatment concerns.

The officer proposed an amended recommendation to delegate authority to grant planning permission to the head of planning, subject to the addressing of the landscaping comments and additional conditions relating to communal satellite dishes/aerials for the flats.

Karen Waggott, a local resident, spoke against the application.

Ronald Judd, a local resident, spoke against the application

Nick Laister, the applicant’s agent, spoke in favour of the application.

Denise Macdonald, the local ward councillor, spoke against the application.

A number of councillors expressed concerns regarding the preservation of the archaeological heritage of the site.

A motion moved and seconded to grant planning permission was declared carried on being put to the vote.

RESOLVED:  to authorise  the head of planning to grant planning permission for application P14/V1314/RM for parcel DN03BCD, Great Western Park, Didcot, subject to the following conditions:

1. The development shall begin within two years;
2. The development hereby approved shall be carried out in accordance with the schedule of drawings dated 30th September 2014;
3. The development hereby approved shall not be occupied until full details (including a plan of the means of foul drainage and the storage tanks and accompanying system as referenced in the letter from RPS dated 29^th September) have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority;
4. Details of tenure mix on the affordable housing units shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority;
5. The external finishes for the development hereby permitted shall only be constructed in the materials specified on the Drawing No. 69-1997-107 Rev C External Finishes Layout or in other materials which shall previously have been approved by the Local Planning Authority;
6. The garages forming part of the development shall be retained for parking of motor vehicles at all times and shall not be adapted to be used for any other purpose;
7. Amendments to the arboricultural method statement; and
8. Communal telecoms agreements for the flats.