Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence, all Members were in attendance.

To invite Councillors to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests and / or Other Disclosable Interests they may have in items on the agenda, and to confirm the nature of those interests.

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 21^st February 2024 were presented to Members.

RESOLVED that

the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 21^st February 2024 were approved as a true and accurate record and signed by the Chair.

To note Update Reports (if any) for the Planning Applications to be considered at the meeting (circulated prior to the commencement of the meeting)

The Chair drew Members’ attention to the update report, which

had been circulated to Members prior to the meeting commencing.

Members indicated that they had had sufficient time to read the update report and that they were happy to proceed with the meeting.

The application was reported to the Planning Committee because the application required a Section 106 Agreement. As such the application fell outside the scheme of delegation to Officers.

Officers presented the report and in doing so, drew Members’attention to the presentation slides on pages 5 to 43 of the Site Plans and Presentations pack.

The application was for theLand West of Hither Green Lane, Redditch and sought residential development for 214 dwellings, including 2 custom build plots and 66 affordable dwellings. It included vehicular access, play areas, public open space and all other ancillary and enabling infrastructure.

The location of the site was detailed on pages 6 to 9 of the Site Plans and Presentations pack. Officers further informed Members that although the majority of the land (9.47 ha) was designated as primary open space under policy 13 of the Local Plan and part of the site (0.38 ha) is shown as white land. There was no public access to the site and the only access was via the private golfclub.

Officers detailed the proposed layout of the site, shown on pages 17 to 22 of the public reports pack. This included information on housing, including the number and the location of the 66 affordable units which accounted for 30% of the development. Officers further detailed that the proposed development aims to create a well-designed and efficient urban environment with 2 and 2.5-storey dwellings. The development would be laid out in a series of connected parcels, with a clear distinction between the public and private realm. The development had an approximate density of 36 dwellings per hectare.

Members commented that the Borough had a 10.3-year housing supply which was greater than the required 5-year housing supply outlined in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). However, the 5-year figure was a minimum and that there was not a maximum figure in the NPPF. Therefore, regard was given to the National picture as a whole where there was a shortage of houses being built.

The development required the removal of some trees which had TPOs attached, mitigation/replanting measures were proposed and the Arboricutural Officer had raised no objection subject to this mitigation.

North Worcestershire Water Management (NWWM) had assessed the application and the impact it would have in regard to flooding from the nearby river Arrow.  NWWM had found the risk to be minimal and had not raised an objection or requested a drainage solution Condition. However, Officers included a drainage Condition (13) following advice from the Council’s ecologist.

The application had been supported by extensive ecology surveys, the Council's appointed Ecologist (Thompson Ecology) and Natural England were satisfied that the survey effort was sufficient to inform the application for development. A biodiversity metric had been submitted as a part of the proposals. A net gain in biodiversity (+1.84% habitat units, +4.85% hedgerow units) would be provided through biodiversity enhancements on offsite land immediately to the east of the proposed development (the retained golf course).

Members’ attention  ...  view the full minutes text for item 73.