Agenda item

Application for outline planning permission for the construction of up to 78 dwellings (including affordable housing) with associated access, amenity space and landscaping.

Ian White, one of the local ward councillors, stepped down from the committee and took no part in the debate or voting on this item. 

The committee considered application P16/S1468/O for outline planning permission for the construction of up to 78 dwellings (including affordable housing) with associated access, amenity space and landscaping on land north of Mill Lane, Chinnor.

Consultations, representations, policy and guidance and the site’s planning history were detailed in the officer’s report which formed part of the agenda pack for this meeting.

Officer update: a further 9 responses had been received objecting to the application.

Robin Williams and Pat Haywood, representatives of Chinnor parish council, spoke objecting to the application. Their concerns included the following:

·         Despite originally being one of the preferred options identified, this site was no longer considered appropriate;

·         The application was premature and would undermine the imminent publication of the Neighbourhood Plan;

·         Chinnor was being overdeveloped;

·         Construction noise and disturbance would adversely affect the neighbouring school;

·         There would be an increased risk of traffic accidents;

·         The site was not a sustainable location; and

·         There was a lack of infrastructure to support the development.

David Poole and Keith Webley, local residents, spoke objecting to the application. Their concerns included the following:

·         The need to preserve the ancient hedgerow;

·         Existing drainage problems would be exacerbated;

·         The transport assessment was inadequate and inaccurate; and

·         Local roads were already at capacity.

Nik Kyzba and David Burson, the applicant’s agents, spoke in support of the application:

·         The site was in a sustainable location and was an appropriate site for housing;

·         There was a significant shortage of housing in South Oxfordshire and this proposal contributed to the supply of deliverable housing sites; and

·         There had been no technical objections to the proposal.

Ian White, one of the local the local ward members, spoke objecting to the application. His concerns included the following:

·         The cumulative effect of developments already approved and those awaiting consideration;

·         The number of dormitory workers this and other developments would bring to Chinnor;

·         Local primary schools were at capacity and there was no local secondary school; and

·         Local GP surgeries were at capacity.

The officer responded to questions and comments raised as follows:

·         Recent appeal decisions relating to South Oxfordshire had established that applications for housing should now be considered in the context of the presumption in favour of sustainable development and should be permitted unless there was demonstrable planning harm that outweighed the benefit of providing new housing.

A motion, moved and seconded, to approve the application was declared carried on being put to the vote.

RESOLVED: to delegate authority to grant outline planning permission for application P16/S1468/O to the head of planning subject to:

 i.       the prior completion of a Section 106 planning obligation to secure the affordable housing, financial contributions and other obligations stated in the report and,

ii.       the following conditions:

1.    Outline planning permission.

2.    Approved plans.

3.    Sample materials to be agreed.

4.    Slab and ridge levels to be agreed.

5.    Reptile mitigation strategy to be approved.

6.    Scheme to offset biodiversity impacts to be approved.

7.    Landscaping scheme to be approved.

8.    Landscape management scheme to be agreed.

9.    Retention of hedge to west of new roundabout.

10.Play space / equiptment to be approved.

11.Air quality mitigation to be approved.

12.Construction hours restriction.

13.Appropriate provision for the control of noise and dust to be approved.

14.Drainage strategy for any on and off site works to be agreed (in consultation with Thames Water).

15.Surface water drainage to be agreed.

16.Green travel plans to be agreed.

17.Off site highway works to be agreed and a timetable for their implementation.

18.Estate access, driveways, parking and turning areas to be provided.

19.Construction traffic management plan to be agreed.

20.Construction method statement to be agreed.

21.Cycle parking to be agreed.

22.No surface water drainage onto highway.

23.Provision of visability splays.

24.Refuse and recycling storage to be agreed.

25.Details of boundary walls and fences to be agreed.

26.Development to achieve Secure by Design Part 2.