Agenda item

To consider the above planning application.

Note: Councillor D Flude (Ward Councillor), Mr S Bratt

(objector), Ms J Hawley and Mr C Parker (supporters) and Mr M Freeman and Ms G Wheatley (on behalf of the applicant) attended the meeting and addressed the Committee on this matter.

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

RESOLVED

(a)  That, for the reasons set out in the report and the written update, the application be REFUSED for the following reasons:

1.    The proposed development by reason of design and siting away from the road frontage would be contrary to the existing pattern of development, would not reflect Crewe’s railway heritage, would not provide adequate green spaces and would not provide safe/adequate pedestrian and cycle links to the railway and town centre. The proposal would therefore fail to provide a high quality or attractive environment and would be contrary to Policies SE1, LPS1, SD1, SD2, SE6 of the Cheshire East Local Plan, Saved Policies S12.2 of the Crewe and Nantwich Local Plan, The Cheshire East Design Guide SPD, Crewe Rail Gateway Adopted Development Brief and the NPPF.

2. Insufficient information has been provided to inform an assessment of the highway impacts of the proposal. The submitted Transport Assessment does not assess the impact upon the local highway network including the junction of Mill Street/Nantwich Road which is within the Infrastructure Delivery Plan. The proposal is therefore contrary to Policies SD1 (Sustainable Development in Cheshire East), SD2 (Sustainable Development Principles), CO4 (Travel Plans and Transport Assessments) of the Cheshire East Local Plan Strategy and the NPPF.

(b)  That, in order to give proper effect to the Committee’s intentions and without changing the substance of the decision, authority be delegated to the Head of Planning (Regulation), in consultation with the Chairman (or in his absence the Vice Chairman) of Southern 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.

(c)  That, should this 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 contribution of 65m2 per family dwelling or £3000 per family dwelling for off site provision for recreational facilities for young people and access improvements in Valley Park

3. Contribution towards Primary and SEN education £143,117