Agenda item

The application was being reported to the Planning Committee because eleven (or more) objections had been received and the recommendation was for approval. Additionally, part of the land which was subject to the application, was within the ownership of Worcestershire County Council (WCC). 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 16 of the Site Plans and Presentations pack.

The application was for Conwil, Dagnell End Road, Redditch, Worcestershire, B98 9BD and sought the demolition of and existing dwelling and the erection of 6 houses with associated access, parking and landscaping.

Officers drew Members attention to the site location plan detailed on page 7 of the Site Plans and Presentations pack; the area of land which was in ownership of WCC that needed to be sold to accommodate the development was identified. Officers further detailed that the development site was not specifically designated as land for housing in the Local Plan. However, as there was an existing dwelling on the site, which would be demolished if approval was given, the site use was deemed acceptable.

The Protected trees were identified by Officers using the Proposed Site Plan image on page 8 of the Site Plans and Presentations pack. Officers further identified the access to each property and it was noted that dwelling number 5 would have a different point of access to plots 1-4 & 6.

Construction traffic for the development would predominately access from the north of the site from the entrance off of Dagnell End Road, as detailed under the Construction Traffic Management Plan (CTMP), this was confirmed by the applicant and would be secured under Condition 16 detailed on pages 33 and 34 of the Public Reports pack.

At the invitation of the Chair, Karen Ashley, an interested party and Councillor Monica Stringfellow, Ward Member, spoke in objection to the development. Altine Elias, the Applicant’s Agent, addressed the Committee in support of the application.

The following was clarified after questions from Members:

• That Dagnel end road could not be used as the access for all the dwellings due to restricted viewing distance cause by the protected trees.
• Previous applications for the site were rejected due to a number of reasons which included the loss of open space, the use of the land, access problems and that the loss of open space did not outweigh the proposed development.
• Ecological surveys had been carried out, no concerns were raised and there was no objection from consultees, subject to suitable Conditions.
• All access for construction traffic was to be via Dagnel End Road which would be safely managed by the use of Banksmen and/or Temporary traffic lights. As the disruption would only be during construction, Officers deemed that the measures were acceptable.

The WCC, Highways Officer in attendance clarified for Members that it would not be possible to attain the required safe viewing distances for access/egress onto Dagnel end road for all the dwellings. The westward viewing distance was acceptable; however, tree obstructions prevented a safe viewing distance eastwardly. It was further noted by Officers that even with a speed reduction, it would not be possible to attain the required viewing distances. However, due to the current access for the property on the site, which was off Dagnel End Road, Officers deemed it acceptable for a single dwelling to retain this access point.

Officers confirmed that the proposed access onto the development via Berkswell Close was assessed and deemed suitable and that no problem areas which would hinder the access for emergency or refuse vehicles were identified.

Members then debated the application which Officers recommended for approval.

Some Members expressed a concern with the application and the impact that it would have on Berkswell close, however, after lengthy debate, Members accepted that without objections from the relevant consultee and with access via Dagnell End Road not being viable, there were no grounds to refuse the application on highway matters.

The concerns in regard to access notwithstanding, Members generally expressed supported the application and on being put to a vote, it was

RESOLVED that

having had regard to the development plan and to all other material considerations, planning permission be GRANTED subject to:

a)    Conditions and Informatives outlined on pages 29 to 35 of the Public Reports pack

b)    amendments to Conditions 2 and 14 as detailed on page 5 of the Update Reports pack.

With the approval of the Chair, there was a short adjournment between 20:08 and 20:16 hours.