Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Darwin, Dodd and Foster.

The minutes of the Strategic Planning Committee held on Tuesday 6 August 2024, as circulated, to be agreed as a true record and be signed by the Chair.

The Minutes of the Strategic Planning Committee held on 6 August 2024, as circulated, were agreed as a true record and were signed by the Chair.

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 outlined the procedure to be followed and 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.

Demolition of all existing buildings within the site’s application boundary and construction of a residential care home and care apartments with associated car parking and landscaping.

Former Benfield Motors Garage, Hillgate, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 1XY

Demolition of all existing buildings within the site’s application boundary and construction of a residential care home and care apartments with associated car parking and landscaping.

Former Benfield Motors Garage, Hillgate, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 1XY

J Murphy, Planning Area Manager - Development Management introduced the report to the Committee with the aid of a power point presentation.  Updates were provided as follows:-

Conditions

·       Following publication of the officer report, the applicant had provided additional information regarding the flood evacuation measures on site. Consultation was undertaken with the local authority’s Public Health team and Civil Contingencies who within their responses still raised concerns regarding flood evacuation measures on site.  To address this, officers considered that flood evacuation measures and risk management might be secured within an appropriately worded condition that would require such details prior to the commencement of any development on site. The Local Planning Authority (LPA) therefore proposed the addition of the following condition to the officer report and recommendation:

'Prior to the commencement of development, a risk management and operating procedures report shall be submitted to the local planning authority detailing precise evacuation measures in the event of flooding. Following written approval from the local planning authority, measures within the report must be implemented and adhered to for the lifetime of the development.

Reason: To ensure the safety of residents in accordance with policy WAT 3 of the Northumberland Local Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework'

As it was not known if the above condition would be acceptable to the Civil Contingencies team a revised recommendation was set out below:

“That this application be minded to approve, subject to a section 106 agreement securing financial contributions to Health Care (£41,100) and Open Space (£10,000) with the conditions as outlined in the report and the additional conditions provided within the update and delegated authority to agree the final wording of the flood evacuation condition granted to the Director of Planning and the Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee. 

·       Further conditions were proposed as follows:

(1)  The development shall not exceed 105 units at any time.

Reason: In the interests of residential amenity in accordance with the NPPF.

(2)  Prior to the commencement of development a schedule of the types and colours of all materials to be used on the external elevations of the proposed development shall be made available for inspection and approved in writing by, the Local Planning Authority. The development shall not be constructed other than with these approved materials thereafter.

Reason: In the interests of the satisfactory appearance of the development upon completion and in accordance with the provisions of Policy QOP 1 of Northumberland Local Plan.

(3)  Prior to any demolition on site, a programme of building recording and analysis has been undertaken by a person or body approved by the Local Planning Authority and in accordance with a written scheme of investigation approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

The programme of historic building recording shall be in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

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.