Agenda item

To consider the report of the Service Lead City Development.

The Principal Project Manager (Development) (PJ) presented the application for outline application for residential development for up to 26 dwellings with all matters reserved except access.

The Principal Project Manager (Development) reported the receipt of further representations from the applicant’s agents objecting to the reasons in the report for refusing the application and requesting the deferral of the application. He advised that the report’s recommendation that the site for housing would have a detrimental impact on the character and appearance of the area identified as important for landscape setting remained and that the protection of the landscape outweighed the need for housing. The request for deferral therefore was not warranted.

Councillor Begley, having given notice under Standing Order No. 44, spoke on the item. She raised the following points:-

• the safety of local residents will be compromised as an additional development will increase the dangerous traffic conditions along Pennsylvania Road which lacks footpaths on both sides. Motorists often miss the speed limit sign which is located outside the built up area. There are a number of incidents where debris has been collected resulting from accidents and there has been one fatality;
• the road is not safe for pedestrian and cyclists and there is a long walk to the nearest bus stop in Stoke Valley Road;
• the site is close to two stables and the safety and health of horses may be compromised;
• adverse impact on bio-diversity of the area;
• an additional settlement will adversely affect water supply in the area as well as causing additional flooding during periods of high run off; and
• there will be an adverse impact on the landscape setting and character of the green hills.

The recommendation was for refusal for the reasons set out in the report.

RESOLVED that outline planning permission for residential development for up to 26 dwellings with all matters reserved except access be REFUSED for the following reasons:-

1.         The development is contrary to Policy LS1 of the Exeter Local Plan First Review and Policy CP16 of the Exeter Core Strategy. The development would result in harm to the character and local distinctiveness of this rural area evidenced in the Exeter Landscape Sensitivity and Capacity Study and the Devon Landscape Character Area Assessment by reason of it contributing to the urbanisation of the area and detracting from the rural green hillside setting.

2.         The development is contrary to Policies LS1 & LS4 of the Exeter Local Plan First Review and CP16 of the Exeter Core Strategy. The creation of vehicular access for the site to the serve the residential units in this location would result in the loss of a substantial section of hedge bank fronting onto Pennsylvania Road detrimental to the visual landscape character and appearance of the area and harmful to the biodiversity of the area located with a site of local interest for nature conservation.

3.         In the absence of sufficient highway information, particularly in respect of a Road Safety Audit regarding pedestrian access to and from the site, the Local Planning Authority as advised by the Local Highway Authority is unable to confirm that the scheme meets necessary highway safety standards onto the existing highway network and therefore is contrary to Policy DG1 of the Exeter Local Plan First Review and Policy CP9 of the Exeter Core Strategy.