Agenda item

To consider the above planning application.

Note: Susan Orrell, Principal Planning Officer, read a representation from Councillor D Marren (Ward Councillor), who was unable to attend the meeting.

Note: Councillor J Clowes (Ward Councillor) and Ms G Shuker (on behalf of the applicant) attended the meeting and addressed the Committee on this matter.

Note: Before she spoke, Councillor Clowes declared that she had attended the Special Meeting of Cabinet the previous day, at which Danielle Bassi had spoken with regard to application number 18/5798N on behalf of Keyworker Homes.  Councillor Clowes had not been involved in the debate and Ms Bassi’s statement to Cabinet had not prejudiced what she was going to say.

Note: Ms D Bassi had registered her intention to address the Committee on behalf of the applicant but did not speak.

The Committee considered a report regarding the above planning application, a written update and an oral report of the site inspection.

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 application site is located within the Open Countryside and outside of the Shavington Settlement Boundary. The application is not supported by an up-to-date Housing Needs Survey to identify the need within this Parish. Furthermore a development of 44 affordable units would exceed the threshold criteria of 10 units identified by Policy SC6. The proposed development would cause harm to the open countryside and be contrary to Policy SC6 and PG6 of the Cheshire East Local Plan Strategy.

2.      There is a minor roost of Bats within one of the buildings to be demolished as part of this proposed development and this proposed development would result in a Low Level adverse impact on this species as a result of the loss of the roost and the risk of any bats present on site being killed or injured during the construction process. The proposed development fails two of the tests contained within the Habitats Directive and as a result would also be contrary to Policies NE.9 of the Crewe and Nantwich Replacement Local Plan 2011 and SE 3 of the Cheshire East Local Plan Strategy and guidance contained within the NPPF.

3.      The design and layout of the proposed development is considered to be poor and fails to take the opportunities available for improving the character and quality of the area. As a result the proposal would not make a positive contribution to the area and would be contrary to Policy SE1 of the CELPS, The Cheshire East Design Guide and the requirements of 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 Development Management, following 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, before issue of the decision notice.

(b)  That, should this application be subject to an appeal, approval be given to enter into a S106 Agreement to secure the following Heads of Terms: