Agenda item

Construction of 4 No. 1 Bedroom Flats with associated gardens, parking and bin/cycle/plant store.

Upon proposal, the Planning Committee approved via affirmation the addition of an informative stating:

“The applicant is advised to engage with Anglian Water in respect of the existing and proposed foul water drainage arrangements, pursuant to the requirements of condition 7 of this consent which requires the submission and approval of a scheme for the disposal of surface water and foul water drainage and maintenance for the development.”

By affirmation, minus the vote of Councillor Claire Daunton, the Planning Committee approved the application, subject to the updated conditions laid out in the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development.

The Principal Planner, Michael Sexton, presented the report with no update. It was noted by the Principal Planner that the local Member, Councillor Aidan Van de Weyer, had distributed an email expressing support for the application and that there had been written representations received from members of the public but that these did not highlight any new issues that were not covered in the report. A local resident, Peter Kruger, addressed the Committee in opposition to the development. Members acknowledged the speaker’s concerns over foul water drainage, sought clarity over the nature of the concern and enquired as to whether the issue had been reported to Anglia Water. The speaker stated that there had been significant flooding at the entrance to the site which logically would have been caused by faults in the pipework between the entrance to the site and the pumping station and brook the other side of the site. The Committee was informed that storm water was not reaching the brook and foul water was not reaching the pumping station, instead they were combining and causing flooding at the entrance to the site which Anglia Water had been notified of by multiple residents.

In the debate, the Committee continued to address the concerns over foul water and questioned if the issues in the sewers were grounds for refusal. The Principal Planner stated that if the issues were confirmed, it would be a maintenance issue for Anglia Water and would not provide the grounds for any technical objection against the application. In responding to further questions on the topic, the Principal Planner noted that Anglia Water had not been consulted on the application but stated that the Council’s Sustainable Drainage Engineer supported the application subject to the conditions laid out in the report. Members also noted the concerns over parking but the Principal Planner quelled concerns on this issue when he informed the Committee that the site would have dedicated, self-contained parking spaces that would not encroach on existing parking space. The demand for affordable housing in the District was noted by the Committee, and Members felt that the application met a need and was a good use of derelict land. It was stated that the majority of concerns were met by the conditions laid out in the report, but the issue of foul water drainage was significant. To remedy this, Councillor Dr. Tumi Hawkins, seconded by Councillor Heather Williams, proposed an informative on the subject of foul water drainage.

Upon proposal, the Planning Committee approved via affirmation the addition of an informative stating:

“The applicant is advised to engage with Anglian Water in respect of the existing and proposed foul water drainage arrangements, pursuant to the requirements of condition 7 of this consent which requires the submission and approval of a scheme for the disposal of surface water and foul water drainage and maintenance for the development.”

By affirmation, minus the vote of Councillor Claire Daunton, the Planning Committee approved the application, subject to the conditions laid out in the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development.