Agenda and minutes

Chair to report.

The Chair outlined the virtual meeting procedure and etiquette to the Committee and attendees.

The Senior Corporate and Community Services Officer confirmed the names of those Councillors and officers present and advised that members of the public were also in attendance to address the Committee and to listen to proceedings.

There were no apologies for absence received.

(Please complete the form provided at the meeting or telephone the Corporate and Community Services Team to prepare a form for your signature before the meeting.  Items must be re-declared when the item is called, and Councillors must leave the room if necessary)

The following declarations of interest were announced:

Head of Place to report (attached).

Councillor Chesters re-declared her personal interest in the above application and chose to leave the meeting during the consideration of this planning application.

The Committee considered a report by the Head of Place (circulated previously).

Councillor S. Crowther (Vice-Chair of Heanton Punchardon Parish Council), Graham Townsend (agent) and Stuart Maskell (applicant) addressed the Committee.

Councillor Davis (Ward Member) addressed the Committee.

In response to questions, the Head of Place advised that the Joint Local Plan was adopted in October 2018.  The Senior Planning Officer (JM) referred to an appeal decision in Torrington whereby the Inspector had come to the conclusion that North Devon and Torridge District Councils were unable to demonstrate a five year supply of deliverable housing land sufficient to meet their housing requirements as the Councils had insufficient evidence for the current deliverability of the housing land supply.  The lack of a five year housing land supply had a material impact on the determination of future applications.  However, should the application be approved it would have a positive impact on the five year housing land supply.   

The Lead Officer Planning Policy advised that since the adoption of the Joint Local Plan, the National Planning Policy Framework had changed the way in which Authority’s could include sites which could contribute to the five year housing land supply.  The Inspector determined as part of the appeal decision in Torrington that emails from developers could not be included as clear evidence of future delivery.  Due to Covid 19 a high level of build out was not anticipated until market confidence was re-established.  The five year housing land supply was determined at a point of time, therefore both Councils needed to maintain a five year supply.  Build out rates will increase and decrease. Both Councils needed to re-establish the five year housing land supply and ensure that there were sufficient deliverable sites.

In response to a question, the Senior Planning Officer (JM) advised that it had been proposed by the applicant  to provide 50% affordable dwellings but at that time the site would have been classed as a rural exceptions site and so the starting point was 100%.   Affordable housing reduced only by cross subsided market housing demonstrated through viability.   However, following the Inspector’s appeal decision in Torrington the site was outside of the development boundary and policies ST17 and ST18 applied.  These policies required the provision of affordable housing to be 30% for this development. There was now no planning policy basis to require the provision of 100% or 50%.  If the Committee was minded to approve the application it could attach additional conditions provided that they met the six tests of reasonableness. As the applicant had agreed to policy compliant contributions an independent viability assessment would not be sought.  If the applicant could not deliver the amount of affordable housing required, then the applicant would be required to submit an application to vary the Section 106 agreement.

In response to questions, the Highways Officer (PY), Devon County Council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 97.

Head of Place to report (attached).

Councillor Chesters returned to the meeting.

The Committee considered a report by the Head of Place (circulated previously).

Councillor Marc Cornelius (South Molton Town Council) addressed the Committee.

Councillors Henderson and Worden (Ward Members) addressed the Committee.

In response to a question, the Planning Officer (DB) confirmed that the application was for the erection of 26 dwellings.

In response to questions, the Lead Planning Officer (JW) advised that the land at Mill Street and Pannier Market end of the site were under separate ownership.  The section 106 would require the pavement to be built to an adoptable standard and that the long term aim would be for adoption once  the pavement connected to the public highway by Devon County Council.

Head of Place to report (attached).

The Committee considered a report by the Head of Place (circulated previously).

Molly Leonard (agent) addressed the Committee.

Councillor Knight (in his capacity as Ward Member) addressed the Committee.

In response to questions, the Lead Planning Officer (JW) advised that the change of the approved timber cladding to a composite compressed fibre cladding material for the elevations was considered to be more appropriate for a modern design building.  The composite material would visually look like timber and would have a softening impact.  Concerns had been raised regarding the timber claddings ability to stand up to weather erosion.

Head of Place to report (attached).

The Committee considered and noted a report by the Head of Place (circulated previously) regarding planning and enforcement appeal decisions received since those reported at the last meeting of the Committee.