Agenda item

The Principal Planning Officer presented the report of the Head of Planning, as set out in the agenda, with a recommendation for approval in principle subject to the prior finalisation of a legal agreement with provisions for contributions to sustainable transport improvements, the details of which being delegated to the Head of Planning and conditions in the report and the addendum. The circulated addendum contained new information relating to the application. The Principal Planning Officer submitted a presentation on behalf of the University of Northampton.

The Principal Planning Officer also pointed out that there was a minor wording change to additional Condition 37 as contained in the addendum.

Professor Petford (Vice Chancellor, University of Northampton) addressed the Committee and spoke in favour of the application.

Mr Rowley (applicant’s Agent) addressed the Committee and spoke in favour of the application.

The committee discussed the report.

The Committee thanked all the organisations involved and congratulated the Planning Officers on their work.

RESOLVED:

That the application be APPROVED IN PRINCIPLE subject to the following:

  (1) Completion of a suitable legal agreement to secure:                             

·             A financial contribution towards  sustainable transport improvements to the value of £175,000, the details of which to be delegated to the Head of Planning;

·             A financial contribution towards Monitoring – this is used to pay the costs of the monitoring compliance of the legal agreement.

(2)   Subject to conditions as set out in the report  and the following amended and additional conditions, and the issue being raised by the Highway Agency being addressed and for the following reason: 

              The proposal demonstrates that the scheme could be designed to respect the character of its locality and would not adversely impact upon residential amenity, visual amenity, heritage, transportation, biodiversity and flood risk and drainage related matters and is considered to be acceptable on its planning merits. For these reasons, the proposal would comply with Policies 1, 4, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 15, 25, 28, 29, 30 and 36 of the Central Area Action Plan 2013, the West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy Submission and the National Planning Policy Framework.

It was also recommended that in the event that an appropriate legal agreement is not signed and completed within six calendar months of the date of this Committee meeting, delegated authority be given to the Head of Planning to refuse or dispose of the application at her discretion on account of the necessary financial contribution not being secured in order to make the proposed development acceptable in line with the Policies in the Central Area Action Plan and National Planning Policy Framework.

Amended Condition 1:

Approval of the details of the appearance, layout, scale and landscaping of the site (hereinafter called the reserved matters) shall be obtained from the Local Planning Authority before any development begins (other than site preparation, clearance or remediation) and the development shall be carried as approved.

Reason: This permission is in outline form only granted under Article 4 (1) of the Town and Country Planning Development Management Procedure) Order 2010.

Amended Condition 15:

Within six months of the commencement of development hereby permitted, a scheme for Hardingstone Dyke improvements shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The scheme shall include channel improvements for Water Framework Directive (WFD) enhancements. Provision for maintenance access shall be factored into the design. The scheme shall be fully implemented and subsequently maintained, in accordance with the timing / phasing arrangements embodied within the scheme.

Reason: As per original report.

Additional Conditions:

34. At the earliest possible seasonal survey window, a Great Crested Newt survey shall be carried out by a suitably experienced ecological consultancy in accordance with the advice set out within their ecological submissions  and a report of their findings shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The report will include, where the presence of Great Crested Newts are established, appropriate measures (including mitigation measures) to safeguard the protected species. Such measures shall be carried out in accordance with a programme to be incorporated in the report and agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The scheme shall be implemented in accordance with the approved scheme and thereafter maintained.

Reason: In the interests of biodiversity to accord with the National Planning Policy Framework.

35. At the earliest possible seasonal survey window, an additional ecological invertebrate survey shall be carried out by a suitably experienced ecological consultancy and a report of the findings be prepared and submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The extent, site area and scope of the invertebrate survey shall be agreed in advance with the Local Planning Authority. The survey report shall be accompanied by a strategy, which shall provide full details of timing, measures for mitigation and enhancement and the development shall be implemented in accordance with the approved details.   

Reason: In the interests of biodiversity to accord with the National Planning Policy Framework.

36. A habitat/nature conservation management plan (or similar) prepared by a suitably experienced ecologist which shall have the primary aim of ensuring that development complements and enhances the development site to ensure that there will be no adverse effect upon species and habitats listed under Section 41 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act (2006) shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority within four months of the commencement of the development hereby permitted. The plan shall include:

Reason: In the interests of biodiversity to accord with the National Planning Policy Framework.

37. Before the development hereby permitted is commenced a written scheme of investigation for archaeological observation and brief for the recording (including photographs) of the remnants of the former power station shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The scheme shall be implemented in accordance with the approved details.

Reason: The site is of architectural and historical significance and it is important that remains are observed and recorded during the development and to accord with Policy 1 of the central Area Action Plan and accord with the aims of the National Planning Policy Framework.