Shrewsbury & Atcham
Borough Council

PRESENT: Councillor Bebb * (Chairman)

Councillors: Clarke *, Kenny, Mrs Owen *, Sambrook *, Sheppard *, Thurston *, Wagner *, Mrs Williams, J M Williams * and S J Williams *.

(* Denotes attendance at site visits)

Also in Attendance: Councillors Jetson and Roberts

Officers in Attendance: Planning Services Manager, Head of Planning Policy, Senior Area Planning Officer, Assistant Solicitor (Deputy Monitoring Officer) and Committee Services Officer.

MINUTES: 18^th July 2006 - confirmed

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Councillors Farmer and Richey (Councillor Wagner attended as his substitute).

07/06 LAND ADJACENT TO 63 THE LEASOWES AND REAR OF TRINITY PRIMARY SCHOOL, FORD, SHREWSBURY

Consideration was given to a report of the Planning Services Manager in respect of a reference from the Development Control and Environmental Protection Committee held on the 7^th November 2006 in relation to the erection of 20 dwellings (consisting of 10 affordable units and 10 open market units), construction of new estate road off The Leasowes and provision of rear school access and parking area (Application Reference: 06/1128/F).

The Development Control and Environmental Protection Committee had recommended that the application be approved, which constituted a significant departure from the Development Plan. In accordance with the planning procedure adopted by the Council, the application had been referred to the Planning Committee for determination.

Members had visited the site.

In accordance with the Council’s Scheme of Public Speaking on Planning Applications Mr Clyne (on behalf of the Parish Council) and Mr Jones spoke against the application and Mr Jones, the applicant, responded. Councillor Roberts also spoke against the application. The Chairman referred to a schedule of additional letters that had been circulated at the meeting.

That the application for the erection of 20 dwellings (consisting of 10 affordable units and 10 open market units), construction of new estate road off The Leasowes and provision of rear school access and parking area (Application Reference: 06/1128/F) be refused for the following reasons:

(a) In the opinion of the Local Planning Authority the proposed development is outside of the village development boundary for Ford and not an allocated housing site and hence is contrary to policy P5 of the Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin Joint Structure Plan and policies HS1, HS3 and LNC3 of the Borough Local Plan, as the development is not for essential agricultural or forestry workers needs and there is no agreement to secure affordable housing under the provisions of Policy HS7 of the Borough Local Plan.

(b) The proposed development would result in the loss of an open field which contributes positively to the setting of the village, and would result in a form of development of a layout and design which would neither preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Ford Conservation Area, and hence is contrary to Policy P24 of the Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin Joint Structure Plan and policy HE8 of the Borough Local Plan.

(c) The Local Planning Authority considers the road layout and parking area to be inadequate and does not meet current standards and advice, giving rise to potential conflict between residential and school traffic, to the detriment of highway safety, contrary to policy GP1 of the Borough Local Plan.

(d) The proposed development would, due to the plot size and design, result in a form of development having a cramped and awkward appearance, especially with regards to the relationship of dwellings to each other, which together with the proximity of the access road to existing properties, would lead to an unneighbourly form of development resulting in noise and general disturbance and would be detrimental to both the future occupiers of the properties and the amenities of the dwellings adjoining the site, contrary to policy GP1 of the Borough Local Plan.

Members of the Planning Committee determined that the application be refused contrary to the recommendation from the Development Control and Environmental Protection Committee.

5.30 p.m. - 6.36 p.m.