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Minutes of the Planning Committee Meeting held in the Town Hall, Bideford on Wednesday 25 August 2021 at 6.00 pm.

 

PRESENT:

North Ward:

Councillor P Christie (Chairman)
Councillor D Bushby

South Ward

Councillor Mrs S Langford

East Ward:

Councillor Mrs L Hellyer

West Ward:

Councillor D Ratcliff
Councillor Mrs K Corfe

IN ATTENDANCE:

Mrs Lesley Dixon-Chatfield – Town Clerk’s Asst
Ms R Babbage – Vistry
Mr L Hooper – Vistry
Mr J Chick – Walsingham Planning (6.20pm)
Mr T Biddle – Baker Estates

 

038.    APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

There were no apologies for absence.

039.    DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest at this point in the meeting

040.    PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SESSION

The Chairman invited Mr Tom Biddle from Baker Estates who wished to speak on Agenda Item 6 (f). Mr Biddle explained that, after reviewing the plans, there were two improvements to the original Outline Plan, presented to this Council earlier in the year via Zoom:

That the original strip of open space between the site boundary and Kathleen Grange would now be removed and the space absorbed into residential curtilage. This would negate the need for Maintenance, lighting, surveillance etc which would have formed part of the Management Company plan. Substantial hedging would be planted to ensure privacy between the two residential areas. This would mean, also, a slight design change in the bungalows that will back onto Kathleen Grange, these will no longer be the chalet style but straightforward bungalows, thus avoiding over-looking.

The area outlined for the site Pumping Station would no longer be used for this purpose; South West Water have requested that Baker Estates pay for an upgrade and expansion of the existing Pumping Station. They prefer to have just the one piece of infrastructure. Baker’s are happy to do this and hope it will be fully adopted by the time the building work starts.

The Chairman asked members if they had any questions. Members voiced a concern for the type of Management Company being used. Mr Biddle said that this would be put out to tender. Councillor Bushby pointed out that there was one in particular that has caused problems for residents with increasing fees substantially, annually, and not delivering. Mr Biddle wished to reassure members that they had not had any problems with any of their other sites and hoped this would be the same. Rigorous checks would be made.

The Chairman thanked Mr Biddle for his time.

040.    MINUTES

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 4 August 2021 were approved and signed as a correct record.

(Vote – For: 5, Against: 0, Abstentions: 1)

 

As not all members of the Presentation team had arrived, the Chairman asked members if they would be happy to bring forward Agenda items 6 and 7 while waiting for Mr Chick.

Proposed by Councillor Christie, seconded by Councillors Mrs L Hellyer

(Vote – For: 6, Against: 0)

 

041.    PLANNING APPLICATIONS

a.    Application No: 1/0831/2021/FUL. Proposed agricultural storage building. Upcott Mill, Coach Drive, Bideford, Devon. Applicant: Mr & Mrs B Macfarlane, same address. Agent: Tree Tops Planning, Bideford. (Date received: 3 Aug 21).
Proposed by Councillor Christie, seconded and
RESOLVED: That the application is deferred until the FRA (Flood Risk Assessment) has been submitted by the applicant.

(Vote – For: 6, Against: 0)

b.    Application No: 1/0736/2021/FUL. Extension to existing business premises units 2, 3 & 4 Daddon Moor Business Park. G4 Fitness, Units 2 To 3, Daddon Moor Business Park, Clovelly Road Industrial Estate. Applicant: Mr D Sparrey, DS Electrical, Unit 11 Daddon Court Business Park, Clovelly Road, Bideford EX39 3HN. Agent: Trewin Design Architects, Holsworthy. (Date received: 3 Aug 21).

Proposed by Councillor Bushby, seconded and

RESOLVED: That the application is approved.

(Vote – For: 6, Against: 0)

c.    Application No: 1/0856/2021/FUL. Rear extension and alterations. 63 Water Park Road, Bideford, Devon, EX39 3RN. Applicant: Mr D Casemore, same address. Agent: RGP Architects, Barnstaple. (Date received 5 Aug 21).

Proposed by Councillor Bushby, seconded and

RESOLVED: That the application is approved.

(Vote – For: 6, Against: 0)

d.    Application No: 1/0876/2021/FUL. Installation of new gas meter and flue. Apartment 14, York Place, Northam Road, Bideford. Applicant: Mr F Gashi, GU2 9PG. Agent: Mr P Hinton, Bideford. (Date received 10 Aug 21).

Proposed by Councillor Bushby, seconded and

RESOLVED: That the application is approved.

(Vote – For: 6, Against: 0)

e.    Application No: 1/0875/2021/LBC. Installation of new gas meter and flue, Apartment 14, York Place, Northam Road, Bideford. Applicant: Mr F Gashi, GU2 9PG. Agent: Mr P Hinton, Bideford. (Date received 10 Aug 21).

Proposed by Councillor Bushby, seconded and

RESOLVED: That the application is approved on the proviso that the Conservation Officer is satisfied with the work proposed.

(Vote – For: 6, Against: 0)

f.    Application No: 1/0894/2021/FUL. Reserved matters application for appearance, access, landscaping, layout & scale pursuant to planning approval 1/0111/2016/OUTM for the erection of 26 residential dwellings, associated infrastructure and open space. (Variation of Condition 1 of application 1/1078/2020/REMM - Plans Schedule). Land East And West Of Manteo Way, Manteo Way, East The Water, Devon. Applicant: Mr T Biddle, Baker Estates TQ12 5LZ. Agent: Focus on Design, Bristol. (Date received 16 Aug 21).

Proposed by Councillor Mrs Hellyer, seconded and

RESOLVED: That the application is approved.

(Vote – For: 6, Against: 0)

043.    PLANNING AUTHORITIES UPDATE BY CLERK

Members noted the decisions received from Torridge District Council since the last meeting.

044.    PRESENTATION FROM WALSINGHAM PLANNING / VISTRY HOMES

The Chairman invited Ms Babbage to start the presentation. Ms Babbage explained that there had been several meetings with Torridge District Council and the Site had been given Outline Planning Permission for 550 homes. This presentation was to put forward design and access plans for Reserved Matters which was being applied for.

She advised that the Reserved Matters would be in two Phases – Phase I for 259 dwellings and Phase II for 291 dwellings and it was hoped to submit Phase I in mid-September and Phase II at the end of October. Start of building would be within 12 months of the final Reserved Matters. Build time expected for the whole site would be over two or three years, which would be quicker than usual as there were two building companies involved; Linden Homes and Bovis.

Design and access include:

• A 1.7ha site for a School
• 3 Access points
• Spine road through site, meandering to encourage safety
• LAP and LEAP
• Wildlife Corridor
• Bat corridors
• Public cycle route just inside the boundary with Clovelly Road

Members wished to discuss the site for the School, expressing some scepticism as many developments over the years have promised Schools, Surgeries, Community Halls and have never once delivered.
They asked Ms Babbage if a School was assured and if so, who would be building it. She indicated that Devon County Council would be involved.
Members asked Councillor Mrs Hellyer if she could find out more, especially as another School had been promised on another development.

Mr Chick confirmed that there would be 15% affordable housing across the whole site, with some units being affordable rents and others on a shared ownership scheme.

Ms Babbage explained that there would be three character areas, each with a different feel and design/colour of dwellings.

Members had other questions for Vistry/Walsingham:

Q Had the Farm next door been part of mitigation? The Farm was 6th generation and there are bound to be farmyard smells and noises.
A Ms Babbage assured members that this had been taken into account at the Outline Planning stage and Vistry have had to put mitigation measures in place. If the Farm, however, wishes to expand in the future, it will incumbent upon them to take mitigation measures.

Q Had Vistry considered installing Solar Panels and Electric car chargers in the properties, a cheaper option at the building stage rather than retrospectively?
A Solar panels had not been factored in but electric car charge points in those dwellings with garages had been planned.

Q How many parking spaces per dwelling?
A More than one at this stage.

Q Air Quality concerns with more traffic being generated.
A An air quality survey was completed as part of the Outline Planning application.

Q With climate change and previous concerns about flooding, has a FRA been completed?
A Yes, and this has been taken into consideration.

Q Has installation of dog waste bins been considered? There has been difficulty in getting the bins installed on other development after the building has been completed.
A This could be considered.

Ms Babbage thanked members and pointed out that when the Reserved Matters applications go in, the drawings will be more detailed and will give a better picture.

The Chairman thanked the representatives from Vistry and Walsingham for their time, he pointed out to them that this development had, in fact, been opposed by this Council at the Outline Planning stage.

 

The business of the meeting having been completed, the Chairman thanked Members for their attendance and the meeting concluded at 7.10 pm.


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