Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Lane and Matthews.

The minutes of the meeting held on 24 August 2010 were agreed and signed by the Chair.

Councillor Meredith declared Personal and Prejudicial interests in applications N/2010/0301 and N/2010/0646 as a member of WNDC’s Northampton Planning Committee.

Councillors Church and Woods declared Personal interests in applications N/2010/0301 and N/2010/0646 as Board members of WNDC.

Councillor Hill declared a Personal interest in application N/2010/0646 as the applicant had made a donation to his Mayoral Charity.

Councillor Golby declared a Personal interest in application N/2010/0301 as being known to one of the speakers.

Councillors Collins, J. Conroy, Church and Woods declared Personal interests in application N/2010/0301 as the Liberal Democrat Office was situated in Clarke Road, adjacent to the site.

None.

Report of Head of Planning (copy herewith)

The Head of Planning submitted a List of Current Appeals and Inquiries and elaborated thereon.

Report of Head of Planning

(copy herewith)

The Head of Planning submitted a report that set out Development Control and Enforcement performance for the first quarter of 2010/11 and elaborated thereon.

RESOLVED:     That the report be noted and that future reports include the numbers of applications and appeals expressed in tabular form as well as text.

None.

None.

Report of Head of Planning

(copy herewith)

Ward: Abington

The Head of Planning submitted a report in respect of application number N/2010/0694 and elaborated thereon.

The Committee discussed the application.

RESOLVED:      That the advertisement consent be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report as the proposed signs would not adversely impact upon the Conservation Area, amenity or public safety.

Report of Head of Planning

(copy herewith)

Ward: St Crispin

The Head of Planning submitted a report in respect of application N/2010/0719 and in answer to a question commented that the new signs would not obscure views of the sculpture.

The Committee discussed the application.

RESOLVED:     That the advertisement consent be granted subject to the    conditions set out in the report as the proposed signs would not adversely impact upon the Conservation Area, amenity or public safety.    

An Addendum of further information considered by the Committee is attached.

Report of Head of Planning

(copy herewith)

Ward: St James

The Head of Planning submitted a report in respect of application N/2010/0458 elaborated thereon and referred to the Addendum that set out an amendment to the recommendation, an additional proposed condition and a statement concerning the need for a contribution towards education provision in the light of the viability assessment of the scheme. The Head of Planning noted that the scheme would provide 100% affordable housing and the viability assessment had shown that a requirement to make a contribution towards education would make it unviable. All the occupiers would come from the Council’s housing waiting list. As such children of families occupying the scheme would already be in schools and the Education Authority had agreed in these circumstances to waive their usual requirement.

In answer to questions the Head of Planning noted that access to the car parking area would be gated and that a scheme would need to be submitted to and agreed by the Planning Authority before implementation. He noted that the Police had expressed no objections to the scheme design or car parking provision. In terms of the overall car parking arrangements for the scheme he commented that given the access to public transport, cycle paths, pedestrian footways and the scope for some on-street parking that provision was adequate.

The Committee discussed the application.

RESOLVED:  That the application be approved subject to the prior  finalisation of a Section 106 Agreement to secure:

·        The provision of at least 35% of the development to be affordable housing; and

·        That access to the open space is secured for all and that it is maintained in perpetuity;

                           and the conditions set out in the report and Addendum as the proposal would represent the efficient reuse of previously developed land and would provide a satisfactory standard of residential amenity and the proposal would have no significant undue detrimental impact upon the amenities of surrounding residents, it therefore complies with the requirements of PPS1- Delivering Sustainable Development, PPS3- Housing and Policies H6, E20 and E40 of the Northampton Local Plan.       

Report of Head of Planning

(copy herewith)

Ward: St Crispin

The Head of Planning submitted a report in respect of application number N/2010/0475, elaborated thereon and in answer to a question stated that it would be possible to secure a bond to implement the End of Life Plan through a legal agreement; in any case a legal agreement would be required for the applicant to gain access to the site across Council owned land.

The Committee discussed the application.

RESOLVED:      1.   That Condition 2 of planning permission N/2008/0502 which limits the development to a temporary period of 5 years be deleted and replaced with a condition securing an end of life plan to remove the vessel and restore the riverbank subject to prior completion of a suitable S106 agreement as set out in 2 below. 

                              2.    That the end of life plan would be enacted at the end of the commercial cycle or when the vessel no longer maintains the standards set out for independent assessment by an agreed third party within a S106 legal agreement between the developer/ owner and the Council.

                             3.    That the Head of Planning be authorised to establish the terms of the legal agreement that will ensure the good upkeep of the vessel, thus overcoming the need to control the development by terminating planning permission five years after first operation.

None.

None.

Report of Head of Planning

(copy herewith)

Ward: West Hunsbury

Councillor Meredith left the remainder of the meeting in accordance with his earlier declaration of interest.

The Head of Planning submitted a report in respect of application N/2010/0301 and referred to the Addendum that set out the Highway Authority’s comments, comments from Upton Parish Council, a briefing note from Taylor Wimpy, comments from the Borough Solicitor, clarification regarding a group of trees and correspondence from a resident of St Crispins including correspondence that had appeared in the Chronicle and Echo on 24 September 2010.  The Head of Planning referred to paragraph 2.3 of the report and elaborated upon the changes that had been made since the Committee previously considered this application on 1 June 2010. In answer to questions the Head of Planning noted that the houses to the north east of the site would overlook open space and would have their own vehicular access; the access to the development would be further south than the existing compound; noted the distances from the edge of the highway to the nearest house walls; and confirmed that the Highways Authority was content with the road layout.

Brian Convery, a resident, stated that some of the comments made by the Applicant’s consultants were in his view inaccurate; the medical facilities provided at the Pendred Site were mental health orientated and not general medical; the road network was not adequate and noted existing problems at St Luke’s School and the Extra Care Village and that the road usage had been understated, possibly, by 1,000 vehicle movements each day given the effect of the development of the former hospital building and a development of 40 further homes at Princess Marina; This did not seem to have been considered. He believed that this site had not been originally earmarked for development. Mr Convery queried why the developers were allowed to install an electric sewerage pump: what would happen in the event of a power failure?

Mr Kingston a resident and member of Northampton Residents Association, stated that the consultant to Taylor Woodrow  had expressed concerns as to the stability of the land and had asked that the site layout be not radically altered. He referred to land surveys in the 1970’s that had led to the Northampton Development Corporation withdrawing the site from sale because of the concerns over the potential for land slip ie sites that had a slope of greater than 7 degrees and faced a river valley (and with the underlying geology of clay over sandstone). He believed that WNDC were in denial over this issue and were only listening to their own consultant’s advice. He noted that Northampton Residents Association had passed documentation to the Council earlier in the year about the issue of solifluction.

Councillor P. D. Varnsverry expressed concern that the Highways Authority had made no objections given that they were already aware of the problems of the existing road layout in respect of its narrowness, sharp bends, on street parking and St Luke’s school. He noted “solutions” were planned  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12a

Report of Head of Planning

(copy herewith)

Ward: Abington

The Head of Planning submitted a report in respect of application N/2010/0646 elaborated thereon and referred to the Addendum that set out representations from Councillors B. Hoare and I Markham, further information from the Cricket Club, a further letter from the applicant and representations from residents of Abington Cottages, Wellingborough Road and Wantage Road. The Head of Planning confirmed that the application concerned the siting of the flood light columns only.

Councillor I Markham stated that residents had originally objected to the proposal because of the height of the columns, their impact on the adjacent conservation area, noise, music and light spill into bedrooms. She noted that the lights could be seen from Morrisons on the Kettering Road. She referred to problems of noise and fumes from the generators: there should be conditions concerning hours of use, free parking provided by the cricket club and the generators replaced by the start of next season.

David Lethanthall, a resident, commented that the approval given in 2009 tried to strike a balance between the needs of the cricket club and its impact regionally and those of residents. Although the flood light columns were quite slim the ballast retainers doubled their width from eye level downwards. He made comparisons between the 2009 report and the current one. He noted that the PA system was used for post match interviews rather than just for public information or safety announcements; that the flood lights had been left fully on after the previously agreed time for their being turned down on three occasions and that a generator was being used rather the lights being connected to the mains.

Paul Greco, a resident, stated that he had not objected to the original application but did object to the new siting of flood light column 4. He displayed  photographs showing how the column dominated his property. He was not convinced that the current plans accurately showed the location of it. The flood lights could be seen within his property and no-one had been to see its impact. Mr Greco was unhappy about the noise and fumes from the generator and queried the guarantee that the flood lights would be connected to the mains.

Sally Tagg, Planning Consultant for the applicant, commented that the Committee had previously supported the application in August 2009. During the construction of the scheme the flood light columns had had to be moved for technical reasons hence the current application. She reminded the Committee that hours of use and car parking were not part of the application. She also commented that the new positions of the lighting columns had resulted in reduced light spill in all but one instance and confirmed that the flood lights would be connected to the mains and use of the generator ceased. She noted that music had been used at the ground since 2000 and stated that this application was not materially different to the original one. In answer to a question concerning any discussions that may have taken  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12b