Agenda and draft minutes

The Chair outlined the procedure to be followed at the meeting.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

Apologies were received from Councillors Renner-Thompson and Watson.

The Minutes of the Strategic Planning Committee held on Tuesday 6 July 2021, as circulated, to be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Strategic Planning Committee held on Tuesday 6 July 2021, as circulated, be agreed as true record and signed by the Chair.

Unless already entered in the Council’s Register of Members’ interests, members are required to disclose any personal interest (which includes any disclosable pecuniary interest) they may have in any of the items included on the agenda for the meeting in accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the Council on 4 July 2012, and are reminded that if they have any personal interests of a prejudicial nature (as defined under paragraph 17 of the Code Conduct) they must not participate in any discussion or vote on the matter and must leave the room. NB Any member needing clarification must contact the monitoring officer by email at monitoringofficer@northumberland.gov.uk. Please refer to the guidance on disclosures at the rear of this agenda letter.

Councillor Flux advised that he would be speaking as the Local Ward Councillor on behalf of residents on application number 21/00842/VAREIA and was also a resident of Langdale Drive which had been referenced in the report.

To request the committee to decide the planning applications attached to this report using the powers delegated to it. 

Please note that printed letters of objection/support are no longer circulated with the agenda but are available on the Council’s website at  http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/Planning.aspx

The report requested the Committee to decide the planning applications attached to the report using the powers delegated to it.  Members were reminded of the principles which should govern their consideration of the applications, the procedure for handling representations, the requirement of conditions and the need for justifiable reasons for the granting of permission or refusal of planning applications.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

Planning Variation of condition 4 (approved plans) on approved application B/08/00465/FUL in order to substitute house types on 715no. plots

Land At South West Sector, Beacon Lane, Cramlington, Northumberland

Planning Variation of condition 4 (approved plans) on approved application B/08/00465/FUL in order to substitute house types on 715 no. plots

Land at South West Sector, Beacon Lane, Cramlington, Northumberland

G Horsman, Principal Planning Officer introduced the application to the Committee with the aid of a power point presentation.  Updates were provided as follows:-

·       In respect of the S106 Agreement and reference to the viability review clause which made reference to 3 areas, foundation cost, changes to Part L of Building Regulations and costs related to Building Regulations in respect of Future Homes. Further discussions had taken place with the applicants and an external Quantity Surveyor and the proposal was now that the review mechanism would only cover foundation costs and Building Regulations in respect of Future Homes and not Part L of the Building Regulations.

·       Minor changes were required to some conditions after further amended drawings had been submitted since publication of the agenda which provided  updates to detailed drawings as follows: Condition 4, drawing numbers to be updated; minor changes to wordings of conditions 10 and 11 which referenced the drawing numbers in condition 4

·       Condition 12 – change to “No dwelling plot development shall take place above damp proof course within any phase …..”

·       Condition 23 – add to end “as amended by the approved plans mentioned in condition 4.

·       Revised Recommendation : The application be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report with minor amendments to conditions 4,10,11,12 and 23 as outlined above and the applicant entering into a Section 106 Agreement to secure the affordable housing and other contributions detailed in the report and the detail of the viability review mechanism regarding abnormal foundations and future homes costs to be determined by the Director of Planning and the Chair of Strategic Planning Committee.

Information was provided on the longstanding assumption of development on the site and the viability of the scheme with reassurance given that officers had worked with the developer to secure the highest level of S106 contribution possible whilst enabling the scheme to be deliverable.

Councillor Flux addressed the Committee speaking as the Ward Councillor on behalf of residents.  His comments included the following:-

·       Residents of Cramlington had been very stoic in respect of the very large applications in the area and there had not been mass objections, however he was disappointed to see this stoicism being rewarded with such a disappointing report with the reductions in S106 contributions and affordable housing as compared to the 2017 application.

·       New residents would not relish that £1m would be clawed back through their service charges.

·       Roads and roundabouts were a big issue in Cramlington and the link proposed to the site from Langdale Drive was of concern with the possibility of antisocial behaviour and vehicles using this. He wished it to be confirmed that this would only be a cycle lane and if it was to be used for emergency vehicles when would this be used.  It was also highlighted that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

For Members’ information to report the progress of planning appeals.  This is a monthly report and relates to appeals throughout all 5 Local Area Council Planning Committee areas and covers appeals of Strategic Planning Committee.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

For Members’ information to report the agreement monitoring and collection of s106 contributions in the planning process.  This is a monthly report and relates to agreements throughout Northumberland during the previous monthly period

RESOLVED that the information be noted.