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 Foster, Renner-Thompson and A Watson.

The minutes of the Strategic Planning Committees held on Tuesday 1 February  2022, as circulated, be agreed as a true record and be signed by the Chair.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meetings of the Strategic Planning Committee held on Tuesday 1 February 2022, as circulated, were agreed as a 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 Ball advised that she was speaking as the local Ward Councillor on application 20/04423/OUT and would take no further part in the determination of the application.

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 not 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.

Extraction of sandstone.

Prudham Quarry, Newbrough, Northumberland

Extraction of sandstone

Prudham Quarry, Newbrough, Northumberland

G Halliday provided a detailed introduction to the application with the aid of a power point presentation.  An addendum report was tabled, along with a late representation and response from public protection, with time allowed for Members to read the information.  It was confirmed that a copy of the addendum report would be filed with the signed minutes and a copy uploaded to the Council’s website.  Additional updates were also provided as follows:

·       Following the site visit it was suggested that the monitoring report required by condition 21 could be more regular in the early stages of the site’s operation and therefore the beginning of condition 21 should be amended to read:-

A report shall be submitted to the MPA on a monthly basis for the first 12 months after the commencement of extraction and thereafter on an annual basis detailing the results of groundwater monitoring and an assessment as to whether the surface water management scheme has achieved the aims and been effective. The first such report shall be submitted not later than 2 months after the commencement of extraction…..

·       For clarity it was proposed that the beginning of condition 12 was amended as follows:-

The total number of heavy goods movements shall not exceed 3 movements into the site and 3 movements from the site on any day …..

·       At the site visit Members also expressed concern that the road between the site entrance and the public highway might be damaged by HGVs and following discussions with the applicant an additional condition is recommended as follows:-

Prior to the commencement of extraction the access road between the site entrance and the public highway shall be repaired and shall be maintained to the satisfaction of the Mineral Planning Authority for the duration of the development.

Reason: In the interests of highway safety in accordance with Policies EP18 and EP19 of the Northumberland Minerals Local Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework. 

R Murfin, Interim Executive Director of Planning and Local Services advised that the previous application had been refused, not as a point of principle, but due to the significant weight placed on the three key statutory consultees’ technical objections to the application.  Significant work had been undertaken to address these reasons for refusal and protracted dialogue had taken place with consultees. Officers were now satisfied that the application could be recommended for approval and highlighted that all three statutory consultees had now formally withdrawn objections subject to conditions being attached to any permission granted.

Mr D Curry addressed the Committee speaking in objection to the application.  His comments included the following:-

·       The last time he had explained his deep concerns about this application, related to a spring at their property ‘Woodlands’, which was connected to the ‘Blue Lagoon’. 

·       The spring suddenly came to life in 2013, after Border Stone Quarries removed ‘sandstone samples’ from the site. Groundwater started to emerge from the base of the spoil heaps, and flooded their  ...  view the full minutes text for item 79.

Construction of a two-platform railway station including: pedestrian lifts, stepped pedestrian access, new highway accesses; construction of overbridge to carry diverted A1061 with shared footway and cycleway. Modifications to existing highways including new roundabouts and realignment of local roads and construction of new access roads from the highway; provision of parking for buses, cars, electric vehicles, motorcycles, cycles, and taxis; works to of public rights of way. Construction of facilities ancillary to the station including, lighting, soft and hard landscaping, surface and subsurface drainage, utilities and other services, boundary treatment and other associated works

Land South of The A1061, South Newsham Road, Blyth, Northumberland

Construction of a two-platform railway station including: pedestrian lifts, stepped pedestrian access, new highway accesses; construction of overbridge to carry diverted A1061 with shared footway and cycleway. Modifications to existing highways including new roundabouts and realignment of local roads and construction of new access roads from the highway; provision of parking for buses, cars, electric vehicles, motorcycles, cycles, and taxis; works to of public rights of way. Construction of facilities ancillary to the station including, lighting, soft and hard landscaping, surface and subsurface drainage, utilities and other services, boundary treatment and other associated works

Land South of The A1061, South Newsham Road, Blyth, Northumberland

G Halliday, Consultant Planner provided a comprehensive introduction to the application with the aid of a power point presentation, including visualisations of the proposed station. 

A Healey, Planning Consultant, addressed the Committee speaking in support of the application.  Her comments included the following:-

·       This application was one of six new stations proposed as part of plans to reintroduce passenger services between Newcastle and Ashington and the final station to be heard by this Committee.

·       The application had been the subject of extensive consultations with officers and other stakeholders both before and after the planning submission.

·       The proposals had also been the subject of a significant public consultation exercise, whereupon several hundred people wrote to support the overall Northumberland Line scheme with 206 representations specifically supporting the proposals at Newsham. Such support confirmed there was a significant public interest in the development of a new railway station at Newsham.

·       The applicant recognised concerns raised by residents in relation to the impact of the proposals on the existing on-street parking arrangement and to address these the submitted proposals sought to safeguard and formalise the existing arrangement.  The area proposed to be formalised had been maximised within the constraints of the site and the report confirmed that the Highways Authority supported this provision in order to improve road safety for road users accessing the station.

·       The introduction of passenger trains onto the railway line would increase the frequency of closures and risk of accidents at level crossings. At Newsham a risk assessment undertaken by Network Rail concluded that the closure of the level crossing was the safest intervention. The proposed bridge provided a diversion which would remove the delays associated with queuing at a level crossing, whilst improving safety for road users and meeting the relevant industry safety requirements.  The proposals had been thoroughly assessed by Highways Officers who had confirmed the proposals were appropriate, subject to the imposition of conditions.

·       The submitted documents provided a robust case demonstrating the application was in accordance with relevant planning policies. Policies both within the adopted Blyth Valley Local Plan and emerging Northumberland Local Plan identified Newsham as a safeguarded location for a future railway station.

·       The proposed development was considered appropriate development within the Green Belt in accordance with relevant local and national planning policies.

·       The station and wider scheme would deliver the transport infrastructure which was required to attract inward  ...  view the full minutes text for item 80.

During consideration of the next application, it was proposed by Councillor Hutchinson and seconded by Councillor Stewart and agreed that, as the time was approaching 6 pm that Standing Orders should be suspended to allow the meeting to continue.

RESOLVED that Standing Orders be suspended.

Outline application seeking approval for access for construction of two storey 58 bed care home and associated but physically separate single storey 12 bedroom specialist unit with associated parking and hard and soft landscaping

Essendene, Kenilworth Road, Ashington, Northumberland

NE63 8AR

Outline application seeking approval for access for construction of two storey 58 bed care home and associated but physically separate single storey 12 bedroom specialist unit with associated parking and hard and soft landscaping

Essendene, Kenilworth Road, Ashington, Northumberland

NE63 8AR

R Laughton, Senior Planning Officer introduced the application to the Committee with the aid of a power point presentation.  Updates were provided as follows:-

·       A late representation had been submitted by Northumberland County Council Adult Services who objected to the scheme and had raised issues with the report where it claimed there was an identified need in the area and in particular highlighted paragraph 7.2.  They stated “Although there was a need for independent supported living in the area for young adults with learning disabilities and potentially, although not yet identified need, for accommodation for older adults, there was no demonstrated need for residential care homes in the area.  The vacancy levels for the sector in the area were still high and data showed that the demand for institutional accommodation has remained flat over the preceding 5 years, while demand for care home and independent supported living had increased, suggesting substitution in the market. This data was supported by a report produced on the residential care home market. There was land that could potentially be utilised for this type of accommodation, however there was no current demand and it was anticipated that choice in the future would remain for independent living.  Any new facility could potentially de-stabilise the current market and prevent users going to existing facilities and leading to their closures.  At this time we would not support any application for residential or nursing care home in the area.

·       A further objection received from a local resident raised concerns regarding the possibility of a care home being built on the site which had been earmarked for the extension to the car park for the station as the current levels of car parking were insufficient to sustain any increase in traffic and growth of Ashington. The car park was essential to the smooth running of the station and was the only viable option for the public to continue to use Ashington’s facilities.

·       The reference to Policy TRA5 should be removed from refusal reason 1 as the policy had not been fully adopted and the plan can only be afforded limited weight.

R Murfin, Interim Executive Director advised that whilst multiple applications for a site was not a material consideration, these circumstances were different.  Whilst the Local Planning Authority was not there to stifle competition, there was an issue as this site was protected by policy and this had been a deliberate step taken to safeguard the land for the opening of the Northumberland Line, therefore the normal general approach did not come into play.

Councillor C Ball addressed the Committee speaking as the local Ward Member.  Her comments included the following:--

·       She had been shocked, surprised and disappointed to see this application on the agenda.

·       She was 100%  ...  view the full minutes text for item 82.

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.