Agenda and minutes

Venue: Guildhall, 203 High Street, Exeter

Contact: Howard Bassett, Democratic Services Officer (Committees)  01392 265107 or email  howard.bassett@exeter.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

28.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 313 KB

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 29 April 2021.

 

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 29 April 2021 were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chair as correct.

 

 

 

29.

Declarations of Interest

Councillors are reminded of the need to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests that relate to business on the agenda and which have not already been included in the register of interests, before any discussion takes place on the item. Unless the interest is sensitive, you must also disclose the nature of the interest. In accordance with the Council's Code of Conduct, you must then leave the room and must not participate in any further discussion of the item. Councillors requiring clarification should seek the advice of the Monitoring Officer prior to the day of the meeting.

 

Minutes:

Members declared the following interests:-

 

COUNCILLOR

MINUTE

Councillor Bialyk

Min. No.30 - disclosable pecuniary interest

 

 

30.

Planning Application No. 20/1380/OUT - Land at Redhills, Exwick Lane, Exeter pdf icon PDF 537 KB

To consider the report of the Liveable Exeter Programme Director and Interim City Development Lead.

 

Minutes:

Councillor Bialyk declared a disclosable pecuniary interest and left the meeting during consideration of this item.

 

The Principal Project Manager (Development) (PJ) presented the application for outline planning permission for up to 80 dwellings and associated infrastructure (All matters reserved except for access).

 

The following key issues were referred to:-

 

·         the principle of development;

·         affordable housing;

·         access and impact on local highways;

·         scale, design, impact on character and appearance; ecological issues/habitats mitigation;

·         Sustainable Construction and Energy Conservation; and

·         Economic benefits and CIL.

 

The Principal Project Manager (Development) provided the following additional detail:-

 

·         the relationship to the surrounding urban and rural areas and the nature and extent of its boundaries, the site being located beyond the built up urban area of Exwick with steep sloping open fields to the north within Teignbridge District Council, also a source of development interest;

·         highway improvements including a vehicular access to the site, new and improved footpaths including the steep footpath from Exwick Lane through to Cheltenham Close and Gloucester Road;

·         the development to comprise of mainly semi-detached and detached properties with some small rows of terraced properties with a total of 35% affordable housing providing 52 market houses and 28 affordable units, a central main road, play areas and a storm attenuation basin; and

·         the receipt of 378 objections and 102 letters of support, together with a late letter from the Devon and Cornwall Health Authority seeking a financial contribution if the development was approved.

 

In balancing the impact of the development on the landscape character of the site against the need for housing to meet the five year housing supply the Principal Project Manager (Development) advised of the following:-

 

·         the Council’s current lack of a five year housing supply and advice contained within the National Planning Policy Framework;

·         the provision of 28 affordable homes on the site at a policy compliant level of 35% in accordance with Core Strategy Policy CP7;

·         the applicant confirming contributions towards highway improvement to footpaths and green travel, education in respect of secondary school provision and GP provision for the area;

·         the location of the proposed development in an area designated as landscape setting in the Core Strategy as well as nature conservation development being contrary to the statutory development plan and the Core Strategy. The impact of 80 dwellings and associated infrastructure would result in a significant change to the landscape character of this site; and

·         the ridgeline forms an important element on the green setting of Exeter and the approach from Redhills is important as the rural ‘back-door’ exit from that side of the City and is an attractive rural boundary to the high density development around Kinnerton Way and Farm Hill.

 

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

 

·         an outline application for up to 80 dwellings up to two storeys high and the layout and design will not be fixed until the reserved matters stage;

·         landscape character is a much broader concept than the loss of a site. In  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

31.

Planning Application No. 20/1684/OUT - Clydesdale Nash and Birks Grange Village Halls of Residence, University of Exeter, Exeter pdf icon PDF 527 KB

To consider the report of the Liveable Exeter Programme Director and Interim City Development Lead.

 

Minutes:

 

The Principal Project Manager (Development) (PJ) presented the outline planning application to build student accommodation and ancillary amenity facilities (up to a maximum of 49,821 sq. metres) and external alterations and refurbishment of Birks Grange Village Blocks A-E; with associated infrastructure, demolition of existing buildings and landscaping (All Matters Reserved).

 

The following key issues were referred to:-

 

·         the principle of development;

·         impact on wider landscape and residential amenity;

·         scale, design, impact on character and appearance

·         access and impact on local highways;

·         ecological issues,

·         Sustainable Construction and Energy Conservation;

·         Economic benefits and CIL.

 

The Principal Project Manager (Development) set out a detailed description of the site and surrounding area, including site photographs, photos of views towards the site and the relationship with the surrounding residential properties particularly Glenthorne Road, Clydesdale Road, Elmbridge Gardens, Streatham Drive, Lodge Hill, Dunvegan Close and Highcroft as well as Holland Hall and Mardon Hall. The site comprised an area of land to the western side of the Streatham campus comprising existing student residential halls of Clydesdale and Nash Grove, Birks Grange Halls and associated refectory and the existing Estates Service Centre within a site area of 6.37 hectares.

 

The Principal Project Manager provided the following additional detail, explaining in each of the four cases below the overall impact of the new scheme on nearby residential properties and this part of the  campus and the changes made by the applicant following consultation, in particular on heights and window alignment in relation to adjacent residences:-

 

·         the areas to be demolished were:-

·         existing two and three storey buildings at Clydesdale and Nash Halls to be replaced with new student accommodation ranging in height from three to eight storeys;

·         existing service centre to be replaced with student accommodation buildings varying in height from three to four;

·         the existing Birks Grange refectory building to be replaced with a new six storey student accommodation building; and

·         refurbishment of existing accommodation blocks A-E of the Birks Grange. The refectory demolition would remove catered halls with kitchens to be provided within each flat reducing the overall number of units as a consequence.

·         there would be a net increase of between 1,200 to 1,250 new student bed spaces, although the precise number of units was not for determination at this stage but the illustrative/supporting information provided an indication of these numbers. The total new build would result in approximately 1,500 new bedspaces (against a net reduction of 287 spaces). The scheme’s design was based on all the new buildings being constructed to Passivhaus standards;

·         the submitted outline planning application sought approval for a maximum permitted floor area rather than a specific number of units, an approach used for the development of the East Park development;

·         in addition, solar panels were proposed above the existing car parking to the east of Holland Park and south of Grafton Road. The type and design would be determined at the reserved matters stage. The application proposed no change to the overall number of car parking spaces within the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

32.

Planning Application No. 20/1685/OUT - Land at Rennes Drive, University of Exeter, Exeter pdf icon PDF 389 KB

To consider the report of the Liveable Exeter Programme Director and Interim City Development Lead.

 

Minutes:

The Principal Project Manager (Development) (PJ) presented the outline planning application to build a replacement Estates Services Centre and ancillary buildings and structures, with associated infrastructure and landscaping (All Matters Reserved).

 

The Principal Project Manager (Development) explained that an error had been made in the submission of the proposal by the applicant and that revised measurements had been provided. The height of the retaining wall was approximately four metres high rather than two metres and the proposed building was now approximately 35 metres by 14 metres with an overall height of 10metres, being double the measurements in the report.

 

The Principal Project Manager (Development) made the following points:-

 

·         the proposal was to relocate the Estate Service Centre onto this site which was being used for storage of green waste, spoil and equipment;

·         the site sloped and was bounded by a mature band of trees separating it from the reservoir, Belvidere Road with Belvidere Meadow Local Nature Reserve and woodland. A Community Garden with polytunnels and greenhouse also bounded the site with a public footpath forming part of the Green Circle next to the Garden;

·         the new building would contain workshops, staff facilities built to Passivhaus principles and horticultural elements;

·         the rear garden boundaries of the Hillcrest properties would be located approximately 50 metres from the eastern boundary of the site and the distance from the rear of the dwellings was approximately 100 metres;

·         access to the site would be within the campus from Rennes Drive to the south western corner of the site closest to the new decked Car Park B;

·         the new estate services centre would comprise offices, workshops, glasshouses, polytunnels, storage buildings and associated infrastructure;

·         with all matters reserved, illustrative material had been provided with details of the access location, layout, parking, circulation space and proposed buildings/structures;

·         access to the site would be created through the existing and widened entry point within the south western corner of the site and, given the sloping nature of the site, two main terraced areas were proposed;

·         42 objections had been received; and

·         the University had stated that the Service Centre was an essential “in house” facility to meet ground and landscape maintenance requirements.

 

Responding to a Member’s query, the Principal Project Manager Development confirmed that bonfires on site would not be allowed as the site was controlled by environmental health legislation.

 

In response to a Member, the Chair confirmed that the application was in outline only, that the amended size of the structure was not binding with the application to be determined at reserved matters stage.

 

Mr Speyer spoke against the application. He raised the following points:-

 

·         the measurements are incorrect;

·         the proposed site has a strong rural feel and is recognised within the Exeter Local Plan which designates the area as a Landscape Setting (LS1) and open countryside;

·         the application is for an industrial installation to include two workshops including vehicle maintenance, a works yard, vehicle cleaning and an extensive vehicle park to be carved out of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.

33.

List of Decisions Made and Withdrawn Applications pdf icon PDF 16 KB

To consider the report of the Liveable Exeter Programme Director and Interim City Development Lead.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Liveable Exeter Programme Director and Interim City Development Lead was submitted.

 

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

 

 

34.

Appeals Report pdf icon PDF 228 KB

To consider the report of the Liveable Exeter Programme Director and Interim City Development Lead.

 

Minutes:

The schedule of appeal decisions and appeals lodged was submitted.

 

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

 

 

35.

Site Inspection Report - Rota for Visits pdf icon PDF 99 KB

A schedule of site inspections for 2021/22 is attached. Members are reminded of social distancing requirements when undertaking any site inspections arranged.

 

Minutes:

The report of the Corporate Manager Democratic & Civic Support was submitted.

 

RESOLVED that the circulated rota of site inspection be approved, subject to any changes during the course of the year.