Agenda item

Full planning application for the erection of 158 residential units and associated access points, landscaping and infrastructure

By seven votes to three, the Committee gave officers delegated authority to approve the application subject to

1.    The prior completion of a Legal Agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 in line with the Heads of Terms attached as Appendix 3 to the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development. Officers would agree with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Planning Committee a framework for cascading, if necessary, the contributions in respect of education and recreation.

2.    The Conditions and Informatives set out in the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development, with the final wording of any amendments to these to be agreed in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Planning Committee prior to the issue of a Decision Notice.

(Councillors John Batchelor, Bradnam, Cahn, Fane, Heylings, Milnes, and Rippeth voted in favour of delegated approval. Councillors Topping, Heather Williams and Wright voted against.)

Members visited the site on 9 April 2019.

The case officer reported that agreement had been reached in relation to the Legal Agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

David Osborn (objector), Meghan Bonner (applicant’s agent), Councillor Stuart Laurie (Babraham Parish Council) and Councillor David Bard (Sawston Parish Council) addressed the meeting.

Members debated several issues, such as design, affordable housing and the “pepper potting” of such, density, housing needs, implications for the neighbours and local schools, and traffic.

The Principal Planning Lawyer, responding to a Member, undertook to revisit the question of the Section 106 financial contribution in respect of education, in order to clarify, in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Planning Committee, whether that money should be directed to Babraham or Sawston.

By seven votes to three, the Committee gave officers delegated authority to approve the application subject to

1.    The prior completion of a Legal Agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 in line with the Heads of Terms attached as Appendix 3 to the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development. Officers would agree with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Planning Committee a framework for cascading, if necessary, the contributions in respect of education and recreation.

2.    The Conditions and Informatives set out in the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development, with the final wording of any amendments to these to be agreed in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Planning Committee prior to the issue of a Decision Notice.

(Councillors John Batchelor, Bradnam, Cahn, Fane, Heylings, Milnes, and Rippeth voted in favour of delegated approval. Councillors Topping, Heather Williams and Wright voted against.)