Agenda item

To consider the above application.

Consideration was given to the above application.

(Parish Councillor Andrew Lindsay, representing Brereton Parish Council and Andrew Morphet, an objector attended the meeting and spoke in respect of the application.  In addition a statement was read out on behalf of Councillor J Wray, the Ward Councillor).

RESOLVED

That the application be refused for the following reasons:-

1.         The proposal involves the development of countryside outside of the Settlement Boundary for Brereton Green as defined in the  Brereton Neighbourhood Plan 2016. It is also involves development within the countryside as set out in the Congleton Local Plan First Review 2005. The proposal erodes the character of the countryside contrary to Brereton Neighbourhood Plan Policies HOU01 and HOU02, Congleton Local Plan First Review policies PS8 and H6 and the advice of NPPF paragraphs 17, 183-5 and 198. These conflicts significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of the proposal.

2.         Whilst it is acknowledged that there is a presumption in favour of sustainable development, in the planning balance it is considered that:

- the development is unsustainable because of the unacceptable economic, environmental and social impact of the scheme upon the efficient operation of the Jodrell Bank Observatory and its internationally important work significantly and demonstrably outweighs the economic and social benefits in terms of its contribution to boosting housing land supply, including the contribution to affordable housing. As such, the proposal is contrary to Policy PS10 of the adopted Congleton Borough Local Plan First Review 2005 and Policy SE14 of the Cheshire East Local Plan Strategy Submission Version that seeks to limit development that impairs the efficiency of the Jodrell Bank radio telescope as well as the provisions of the National Planning Policy Framework.

Should the application be subject to an appeal, the following Heads of Terms should be secured as part of any S106 Agreement:

1.         A scheme for the provision of 30% affordable housing – 65% to be provided as social rent/affordable rent with 35% intermediate tenure. The scheme shall include:

- The numbers, type, tenure and location on the site of the affordable housing provision

- The timing of the construction of the affordable housing and its phasing in relation to the occupancy of the market housing

- The arrangements for the transfer of the affordable housing to an affordable housing provider or the management of the affordable housing if no Registered Social Landlord is involved

- The arrangements to ensure that such provision is affordable for both first and subsequent occupiers of the affordable housing; and

- The occupancy criteria to be used for determining the identity of occupiers of the affordable housing and the means by which such occupancy criteria shall be enforced.

2. Provision of Public Open Space and allotments on site to be maintained by a private management company in perpetuity

3.  School Secondary Education Contribution of £65,371

In order to give proper effect to the Committee’s intentions and without changing the substance of the decision, authority is delegated to the Head of Planning (Regulation) in consultation with the Chairman (or in his absence the Vice Chairman) of the Northern Planning Committee, to correct any technical slip or omission in the wording of the resolution, between approval of the minutes and issue of the decision notice.