Issue - meetings

(Councillor Dennis Benneyworth declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4(1) by virtue of the fact that he was a Member of Hungerford Town Council. As his interest was personal and not prejudicial or a disclosable pecuniary interest and the item was an outline application, he determined to remain to take part in the debate and vote on the matter.  He was also a resident of Kennedy Meadow, which abutted the application site).

(Councillor Paul Hewer declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4(1) by virtue of the fact that he was employed by Sovereign Housing. As his interest was personal and not prejudicial or a disclosable pecuniary interest, he determined to remain to take part in the debate and vote on the matter.)

(Councillor Clive Hooker declared that all Members had been lobbied on Agenda Item 4(1)).

1.       The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(1)) concerning Planning Application 16/03061/OUTMAJ in respect of an outline application for approximately 100 dwellings, public open space and landscaping.  The matters to be considered were access only.

2.       Michael Butler introduced the report to Members, which took account of all the relevant policy considerations and other material considerations.  The Officer recommendation was to grant conditional planning permission subject to the first completion of a Section 106 planning obligation.

3.       Michael Butler emphasised that the only matter under consideration at the meeting was access and the reserved matters application would deal with the appearance, scale and layout of the development.

4.       Highways Officers had advised that although there would be some impact on traffic in Hungerford Town Centre, the impact would not be so severe as to justify a recommendation for refusal.

5.       Michael Butler advised that the Committee would need to consider the planning balance having regard to the relative visual and landscape harm that would result from the scheme.  The extent of the harm, having regard to the landscape mitigation to be put in place, was the important test.

6.       Members were referred to the Update Report and in particular the response from the Planning Policy Team who had concluded that since the Housing Sites Allocation Development Plan Document (HSA DPD) was at a very advanced state, significant weight should be given to the policy allocation and therefore the application was not premature. Michael Butler also asked Members to note that the North Wessex Downs Area of Natural Beauty (AONB) had formally requested the National Planning Casework Unit to call in the proposal should Members approve it.

7.       Michael Butler concluded by advising that if the Committee were minded to refuse the application, the Development Control Manager, under his delegated authority would automatically refer the application to the District Planning Committee for decision.

8.       Bryan Lyttle provided the following information to the Committee:

The HSA DPD had been examined and the Inspector had already published his Preliminary Findings on the Main Modifications to the DPD including what final report would be considered at Council on the 9 May 2017, with the report  ...  view the full minutes text for item 57