Agenda and minutes

Venue: Guildhall, High Street, Exeter. View directions

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

Note: Due to the current social distancing restrictions brought about by the Corona Virus outbreak, any members of the public wishing to attend the meeting please contact the Democratic Services Team committee.services@exeter.gov.uk in advance as there is limited capacity for public attendance. Priority however will be given to those addressing the Committee under the public speaking provisions on the basis of one supporting and one opposing an application. If you wish to speak under these provisions or have an enquiry regarding any items on this agenda, please contact Howard Bassett, Democratic Services Officer (Committees) on 01392 265107. 

Items
No. Item

13.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 261 KB

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 28 March 2022.

 

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 28 March 2022 were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chair as correct.

 

 

14.

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:

 

A Member declared the following interest:-

 

COUNCILLOR

MINUTE

Councillor Branston

Min. No 16 – non pecuniary

 

 

 

15.

Planning Application No 21/1864/FUL - Former Exeter Royal Academy for the Deaf (ERADE), Topsham Road, Exeter pdf icon PDF 277 KB

To consider the report of the Director Planning and Development

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Principal Project Manager (Development) (HS) presented the planning application for the re-development for retirement living accommodation (60 years old and/or partner over 55 years old) comprising 84 retirement apartments including communal facilities, access, car parking and landscaping. Attention was drawn to the matters on the update sheet and wording for conditions 3 and 15 listed in the report was provided.

 

The Principal Project Manager (Development) (HS) described the layout and location of the site through the site location plans, aerial views and photos of the site and panoramic views from and to adjoining areas, elevations of the development in relation to adjoining roads and the design and layout of the three, four and in part, five floors, the report presented setting out the following key issues:-

 

·         principle of development

·         scale, design, impact on character and appearance;

·         access and parking;

·         affordable housing;

·         impact on amenity and biodiversity;

·         sustainable construction;

·         contaminated land;

·         economic benefits and viability; and

·         Development Plan, five year housing land supply and presumption in favour of sustainable development.

 

The Principal Project Manager (Development) (HS) advised that a petition with 952 signatories had been received in the following terms:-

 

“We the undersigned petition the Council to consider the new planning application for a Retirement Living Complex on the former ERADE site 21/1864/FUL with an increase from 61 to 84 residential units together with the new Care Home below it using the proposed access road into and out of the new development via the Weirfield Road cul-de-sac.

 

Weirfield Road is a public taxpayer funded steep, narrow, residential cul-de-sac which already provides sole access to St Leonard's Church and adjoining roads. The detrimental impacts include unsustainable traffic congestion and reduced safety for pedestrians and vehicles. Current proposals expect the existing community to carry the burden of traffic to and from a private development. Developers need to provide an access and slip road directly on to Topsham Road and take responsibility for vehicular movements and associated queues generated by their premises.”

 

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

 

·         the proposed single building block followed the form of the permitted Assisted Living Block, forming a u-shape open to the south away from Topsham Road and incorporated a private garden space with the centre of the building. The western leg of the building (fronting Weirfield Road) being three storey and maintaining a three storey height stepping down the slope to the south. The eastern leg would front a new open space within the wider ERADE site. The massing of the proposed building fronting Topsham Road stepped down in height from four storeys to three storeys towards Weirfield Road;

·         the main vehicular access would be from Weirfield Road, with a drop off/pick up pull-in on Topsham Road. The applicant’s Transport Note concluded that there would be fewer vehicle movements than for the consented Assisted Living Scheme. The proposal incorporated 28 parking car spaces with turning space provided on site to accommodate large vehicles;

·         the site would be developed at the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

16.

Planning Application No. 21/0835/FUL - 47 Homefield Road, Exeter pdf icon PDF 239 KB

To consider the report of the Director Planning and Development

 

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Branston declared a non-pecuniary interest and left the meeting during consideration of this item.

 

The Project Officer (Planning) (EP) presented the outline planning application for the conversion of a locally listed main school building and chapel, including demolition of redundant classrooms and outbuildings, alterations and extensions to retained buildings. Provision of two new residential units to retain one unit of accommodation and create 25 new residential units of accommodation (Revised plans).

 

The Project Officer (Planning) (EP) described the layout, location and dwelling designs through the site location plans, aerial views and photos of the site, the report presented setting out the following key issues:-

 

·         principle of development;

·         loss of community facilities;

·         scale, design, impact on character and heritage assets;

·         access to external amenity space;

·         transport, access and parking;

·         trees and ecology; and

·         affordable housing.

 

The Project Officer (Planning) (EP) provided the following additional detail:-

 

·         the site comprised part of the former Bramdean School, a private school located on the north-western side of Homefield Road. The site contained several buildings, including two linked Georgian houses. The building was locally listed and prominent within the street scene. The primary school building contained one existing residential unit and a teacher's flat. The main school building was to be retained and converted into 14 apartments (4 x 1 bed, 10 x 2 bed);

·         the site also included a large three-storey chapel. The two main buildings were surrounded by several others, including a link between them, a covered gym behind the main school and a further structure to the north boundary known as the 'Homewood block'. The chapel building (music house) was proposed to be retained and converted into nine apartments over three floors (all two-bedroom);

·         the remaining buildings on the site, including the covered gym, the Homewood block, and ancillary single-storey buildings around the chapel, were proposed to be demolished;

·         two, two-storey detached properties were proposed to be constructed. A detached two-storey dwelling (four-bedroom) was proposed for the southeast corner of the site with off-street parking and with an enclosed private garden to the rear. A further detached two-storey dwelling (four-bedrooms) was proposed towards the site's northwest boundary;

·         two communal amenity areas were proposed, forward of the chapel building and a larger area behind the main school;

·         the boundary wall along the north-eastern boundary fronting Homefield Road was proposed to be altered to a low wall with railings above, to a height of 1.1 metres. The existing main vehicular entrance to the site was proposed to be retained; and

·         27 car parking spaces were proposed, with access to sevenelectric vehicle charging points and secure, covered cycle parking.

 

The Project Officer (Planning) (EP) further reported the receipt of 19 objections setting out the following comments on the main issues:-

 

·         Highways - the site was considered to be a sustainable location, within walking and cycling distance of employment hubs, the city centre and the Heavitree District Centre and the Highway Authority had not objected to the proposed parking level, access arrangements, on-site parking  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

17.

Planning Application No - 21/1701/OUT - Land for Residential Development at Hill Barton Farm, Hill Barton Road, Exeter pdf icon PDF 539 KB

To consider the report of the Director Planning and Development

 

 

 

 

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Principal Project Manager (Development) (MH) presented the outline planning application for the construction of up to 285 dwellings with all matters reserved for future consideration (Access, Appearance, Landscaping, Layout and Scale).

 

The Principal Project Manager (Development) (MH) described the layout and location of the site through the site location plans, aerial views and photos of the site and panoramic views from and to other parts of the city, the report presented setting out the following key issues:-

 

·         principle of development;

·         access and impact on local highways and parking provision;

·         affordable housing;

·         scale, design, impact on character and appearance

·         impact on trees and biodiversity;

·         impact on heritage assets;

·         flood risk and surface water management;

·         sustainable construction and energy conservation;

·         economic benefits; and

·         CIL, Section 106.

 

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

 

·         the outline application was for planning permission for up to 285 dwellings with all matters reserved, including detailed access arrangements/design. Although access was also a reserved matter, details of potential access points to serve the development were provided. The development would be accessed via connections into the road network forming part of the wider Hill Barton development that have been, or are being, delivered as part of other consented phases of the development. These roads lead back to Hill Barton Road. In line with the Hill Barton Masterplan, the layout facilitates a further road connection to Oberon Road;

·         details of the site in relation to the Local Plan First Review 1995-2011 Proposals Mao including the Landscape Setting designation (Policy LS1) and the Exeter Local Development Framework Core Strategy adopted 21 February 2021 - Plan 2: Monkerton/Hill Barton Strategic Allocation Policy CP19;

·         a plan showing the application site in relation to adjoining sites showing earlier phases built out pursuant to original outline consent, the consented Persimmon and Vistry sites both under construction and a site allocated for a local centre in the originally consented overall scheme but not built;

·         35% affordable housing to be provided;

·         the proposal would also provide open space which will include a Multi-use Games Area (MUGA) and other equipped play areas. A proposed open space strategy was set out on the illustrative layout plan showing a distribution of open space and play areas across the site, the open space area totalling slightly in excess of 12% across the whole of the previous outline consent site area; and

·         the development would be connected to the district heating network.

 

The Principal Project Manager (Development) (MH) reported changes to the wording of conditions 10 and 15 and the receipt of a late representation objecting to the application, summarising the following main elements of that representation:-

 

·         application should be subject to an environmental impact statement as an Environmental Impact Assessment development;

·         question the impact of the scheme on traffic, air quality and noise perspectives;

·         how will the scheme be delivered without a link to Oberon Road, as otherwise the impact on the three matters above could be worse than envisaged?;

·         with a lack of retail  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

18.

List of Decisions Made and Withdrawn Applications pdf icon PDF 110 KB

To consider the report of the Director Planning and Development

 

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Director Planning and Development was submitted.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

 

 

19.

Appeals Report pdf icon PDF 202 KB

To consider the report of the Director Planning and Development

 

 

Minutes:

The schedule of appeal decisions and appeals lodged was submitted.

 

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

 

 

20.

SITE INSPECTION PARTY

The date and membership of the next Site Inspection Party will be advised.

 

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the Membership of the next Site Inspection Party would be advised.

 

21.

Update Sheet pdf icon PDF 216 KB