Agenda and draft minutes

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 13 January 2025.

The minutes of the meeting held on 13 January 2025 were taken as read, approved, and signed by the Chair as correct.

Members declared the following interests:

·         Councillor Asvachin – Minute No. 16.

To consider the report of the Strategic Director for Place.

The Principal Project Manager, City Development presented the application for a variation of condition 1 to supersede the affordable housing layout of approval 24/0317/RES (Approval of access, layout, scale, appearance and landscaping reserved matters pursuant to planning permission ref. 23/0584/OUT and additional details including lighting, drainage, and bat/bird boxes).

Members received a presentation which included:-

·         site location plan;

·         aerial view;

·         approved tenure layout;

·         proposed tenure layout;

·         key issues; and

·         officer recommendation.

Particular reference was made to the application proposed changing the approved 40 dwelling scheme from 35% affordable housing to 100% affordable housing, which would require a change to the Section 106 agreement. There was significant demand for affordable housing and the proposed tenure split of 55% social rent and 45% intermediate housing, was considered acceptable.

The Principal Project Manager, City Development responded to questions from Members as follows:-

·         the 100% affordable housing related only to this site and could not be carried forward to other sites;

·         the selection of residents would be controlled through a choice system;

·         the number of houses had remained the same;

·         there were no changes to the layout of the site, but a change to the tenure of housing now being affordable housing;

·         applicants would come through the Devon Home Choice scheme, but clarification would be provided by the speaker from Live West;

·         Live West proposed managing public open space in house to prevent paying another company to manage it; and

·         the original conditioned landscape management plan was still in place.

Mr GJ, speaking in favour of the application, made particular reference to:-

·         Live West supported the revised application to deliver 40 additional affordable homes at the site;

·         the revisions removed the requirement for first homes, removing the lower limits for the delivery of affordable homes, and amending the mortgage and possession clause within the Section 106 agreement;

·         there were changes to the landscape management and a new layout plan;

·         the changes aligned with recent national policy changes and were necessary for the funding and delivery of social rent homes;

·         the application sought to vary the Section 106 to enable the delivery of affordable homes by Live West; and

·         the Mortgage Possession Clause, sought to replace the clause to an industry standard and aid loan funding secured against homes.

Mr GJ responded to Members’ questions as follows:-

·         Live West worked proactively with Devon Home Choice to prioritise homes for those with priority housing needs to offer suitable accommodation;

·         Live West was a strategic funding partner with Homes England, and had secured funds to deliver the homes;

·         the proposal was to deliver 22 homes for social rent and 18 for shared ownership;

·         social rent was normally 60% of the market rent, which was more affordable than affordable rent (80% of the market rent); and

·         the mortgage clause changes related to securing funding from banks but were not directly related to shared ownership.

During the debate, Members welcomed the proposal and highlighted Live West as an excellent partner for housing provision.

The recommendation was for a variation  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

To consider the report of the Strategic Director for Place.

Councillor Asvachin declared a non-pecuniary interest and left the meeting as a Committee Member during consideration of the item. Councillor Asvachin, having registered to speak under Standing Order No. 44 and returned to speak during the Member and public speaking section of the item and left the meeting after speaking.

The Assistant Service Lead – Development Management (Major Projects) presented the application for the redevelopment of the existing Wonford Sports Centre and Community and Learning Centre, including the demolition of the existing gym, Phoenix Centre and Outdoor changing rooms and construction of a new hub and FA changing facilities. The new Hub would also accommodate a cafe area, changing facilities, studio, and gym.

Members received a presentation which included:-

·         the site location and context;

·         location plan;

·         an aerial view;

·         photos of the existing building and view;

·         the proposed ground floor and mezzanine;

·         the proposed north, east, south, and west elevations;

·         the proposed landscape plan;

·         axonometric and illustrative views;

·         the planning balance; and

·         the recommendation.

The Assistant Service Lead – Development Management (Major Projects), responded to questions from Members as follows:-

·         this was a full application and existing solar panels would be retained, with additional panels also being added;

·         existing gas boilers would also be retained due to their age, and improvements to the building's thermal dynamics would be made. The design also allowed for future connection to the local energy network;

·         although the image was illustrative, the submitted layout plan showed the actual number of disabled parking spaces;

·         the Police Designing Out Crime Officer recommendations included CCTV, square drain pipes, and flush doors and there would be no issue in including a condition for these details;

·         sports pitches were not included in the application;

·         changing the material from red brick to another type could have visual benefits, however if Members were minded to condition the Police Designing Out Crime Officer recommendations, antisocial behaviour issues would be covered;

·         policies did not specify a number for EV charging points, but there were two spaces available in the scheme with a condition for their provision;

·         confirmation was needed on whether there were accessible changing rooms;

·         the boundary treatment provided a guardrail to indicate public and private spaces;

·         the impact of the cafe viability and removing seating was expected to be minor;

·         the car park footprint and number of spaces remained unchanged; and

·         no additional information was available on proposals to encourage inclusiveness as part of the scheme.

Speaking under Standing Order 44, Councillor Asvachin made reference to:-

·         after many years and consultations, the final plan application was welcomed;

·         the Wonford Community Centre, operated a wide variety of clubs and activities, a friendly café  providing a social lifestyle for Wonford residents;

·         the building was in urgent need of updating, notably the heating and leaks;

·         if approved the updates would commence as soon as funding was provided; and

·         a lot of work had been undertaken between, the planning team, the trustees, and the community to move this forward and it was hoped Members would support  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

To consider the report of the Strategic Director for Place.

Members received the report and following questions raised, the Strategic Director for Place and the Project Manager (Planning) advised:-

• a split decision in planning applications meant that one part of an application was approved and one part was refused;
• a certificate of lawfulness determined whether an HMO had lawful use and wasn’t a planning judgment;
• the Article 4 direction required planning permission for the use of HMOs in certain areas, to control their increased use.

The report of the Strategic Director for Place was noted.

To consider the report of the Strategic Director for Place.

The report of the Strategic Director for Place was noted.