Issue - meetings

To consider the above planning application

Councillor Brown declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the application on the grounds that he was a Director of Plus Dane Housing.  In accordance with the Code of Conduct, he withdrew from the meeting during consideration of the item.    

Councillor Hammond declared a personal interest in respect of the application as the land owner was a former work colleague who had contacted him within the last year and he had received an email from the land owner’s daughter the day before the meeting which he had forwarded on to officers. 

Councillor A Kolker (local Ward Member), Councillor G Holborow (Twemlow Parish Council), Prof S Garrington (Jodrell Bank Observatory), Mrs M Tomkinson (Objector) and Mr A Miller (Plus Dane Housing) attended the meeting and addressed the Committee on this matter.       

The Committee considered the report and a written update regarding the above planning application. 

RESOLVED:

That contrary to the Planning Officer’s recommendation, the application be REFUSED for the following reasons –

Whilst it is acknowledged that there is a need for affordable housing in Twemlow, it is considered that the impact of the scheme on the efficient operation of the Jodrell Bank Observatory and its internationally important work, is a significant adverse impact that demonstrably outweighs the benefits of the scheme and the presumption in favour of this housing scheme.  As such, the proposal is contrary to Policy PS10 of the adopted Congleton Borough Local Plan First Review 2005 that seeks to limit development that impairs the efficiency of the Jodrell Bank Radio Telescope.             

Note: At the conclusion of the item, Councillor Brown returned to the meeting.  Councillor West then left the meeting at this point in the proceedings.