Agenda item

Approval of the matters reserved for the layout of the site, the scale and appearance of buildings and landscaping following outline planning permission S/1963/15/OL for up to 55 dwellings with landscape buffer and new vehicular access

Members visited the site on 9 April 2019.

Consideration of this application was begun, and adjourned until after Item 6 on the agenda to enable Committee members to read additional written information. Councillor Sue Ellington had left the meeting by the time consideration of this item resumed.

Councillor John Batchelor declared a Non-disclosable Pecuniary Interest because his son, Councillor Henry Batchelor, had a business relationship with the developer. In view of the legal advice he had received, Councillor John Batchelor withdrew to the public gallery, took no part in the debate, and did not vote. However, South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Monitoring Officer had granted Councillor John Batchelor a dispensation allowing him to address the meeting as a local Member.

Councillor Pippa Heylings took the Chair and, by affirmation, Councillor Brian Milnes was appointed as Vice-Chairman for this item.

The case officer updated the report.

Geoffrey Pearse (objector), Christopher Moore (applicant’s agent), Councillor Enid Bald (Linton Parish Council) and Councillor John Batchelor (a local Member) addressed the meeting.

Committee members were disappointed that the applicant had decided not to submit the proposal to South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Design Enabling Panel. After further debate, and by six votes to one with two abstentions, the Committee refused the application contrary to the recommendation in the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development. Members agreed the reasons for refusal as being the adverse impact on character and appearance of the area, inadequate landscaping, and the failure to distribute the affordable housing units throughout the development.

(Councillor Fane voted to approve the application. Councillors Cahn, Milnes, Rippeth, Roberts, Heather Williams and Wright voted to refuse. Councillors Handley and Heylings abstained. Councillors John Batchelor and Ellington did not vote.)