Agenda and minutes

To sign the minutes of the meetings held on 14 April, 12 May and 16 June 2014.

The minutes of the meetings held on 14 April, 12 May and 16 June 2014 were taken as read and signed by the Chair as correct.

No declarations of interest were made by Members.

The Assistant Director City Development presented the application for the amendment of condition 29 requiring a vehicular connection to the northern boundary of the site prior to the occupation of any retail unit (Ref. No. 11/1619/01 granted 19-06-2012).

Members were circulated with an update sheet - attached to minutes.

The recommendation was for approval subject to the conditions as set out in the report.

Mr Rocke spoke in support of the application. He raised the following points:-

•  concern since 2012 has been that condition 29 as originally drafted could permit access to Fitzroy Road for circa 750 homes (900 long term) without proper assessment of how the highway connection required by this condition would affect either the site to the south or the local highway network. This link would not access directly onto Fitzroy Road, but initially through the Growen site which has major delivery implications for the permitted employment and commercial development on it, with potential for gridlock at its junction with Fitzroy Road. Its ability to accommodate this level of residential traffic was not assessed as part of the Consortium’s application relating to land to the north;
• strong support from the Met Office, Premier Inn and Wilton Way Residents Association, who all share a common goal to ensure that the performance of the highway network in this location is safeguarded. However, there is a wider picture, Honiton Road is a key arterial route into the city centre and its performance must not be compromised, a position recently supported by the Chamber of Commerce;
• the highway authority have discussed the matter in the light of the highway evidence submitted by Growen Estates’ highway consultants, WSP. The consensus was that the performance of the connection to Fitzroy Road is of significant concern without a second eastern access from the residential development, to Oberon Road, being in place first. There is potential for highway malfunction and junction locking which would not only have major implications for the Met Office's entrance, but also for an employment/ commercial site that is seeking to deliver occupier interest and jobs. Neither can be secured if performance of the highway network, and the access point to it, cannot be proven to function satisfactorily. Prospective developers and occupiers will simply not take the risk and the investment will not be made;
• the re-drafting of condition 29 will deliver the long term goals of the Masterplan for three main access points, whilst safeguarding the performance of the highway network in the vicinity of Fitzroy Road/Honiton Road by requiring the second eastern access to Oberon Road to be constructed first; and
• the only outstanding difference between Growen Estates and the planners relates to the trigger for the construction of the connection to Fitzroy Road through their site. The Growen position is that the trigger must be ‘adoption’ of the connection to Oberon Road since this is the only way to guarantee its availability in perpetuity, and therefore the long term performance of Fitzroy Road/Honiton Road. Only a trigger relating  ...  view the full minutes text for item 84.

To consider the report of the Assistant Director City Development.

The Assistant Director City Development presented the application to fell a T1 Leylandii and a T3 Laburnum.

The recommendation was in support of the application.

RESOLVED that no objection be raised to the felling of a Leylandii and Laburnum and a Tree Preservation Order be not made.

The report of the Assistant Director City Development was submitted.

            RESOLVED that the report be noted.

The schedule of appeal decisions and appeals lodged was submitted.

The Assistant Director City Development reported that an appeal had been allowed for the conversion from office space to yoga studio in respect of Berkley House, Dix’s Field with costs awarded against the Council for this written representation appeal. This would be reported to the next Committee meeting.

In respect of Application No 14/0057/03 - Land to West of Pilton Lane, the Inspector had supported the Council’s position with regard to the payment of £630,000 in lieu of the provision of affordable housing and dismissed the appeal by the developer. It was noted that the Assistant Director City Development had been granted delegated authority, subject to prior consultation with the Chair of the Planning Committee, to grant planning permission for retirement apartments should permission be sought for the duplicate application with the offer of a similar payment.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

To advise that the next Site Inspection Party will be held on Tuesday 16 September 2014 at 9.30 a.m.  The Councillors attending will be Bialyk, Newby and Lyons.

RESOLVED that the next Site Inspection Party be held on Tuesday 16 September 2014 at 9.30 a.m.The Councillors attending will be Denham, Newby and Lyons.