Members visited the site on 13 August 2019.
The case officer gave a verbal presentation based on the following points:
· Highways issues were being addressed as part of the A14 upgrade
· Implications for Northstowe Town Centre
· Unsustainability of the proposed development
· Departure from the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2018
Members sought and received clarification about appropriate marketing of the redundant buildings on site, and the sequential retail test.
Matthew Morris (objecting on behalf of Homes England, who were developing Northstowe Town Centre), Peter Keenan (applicant’s agent), and Councillor Bunty Waters (local Member) addressed the meeting.
Most Members focussed on the proposal’s conflict with Local Plan policies, retail hierarchy and marketing requirements and were minded to refuse the application. However, Councillor Peter Fane said that the proposal should be viewed in terms of striking a balance between existing retail in South Cambridgeshire and the proposal’s specific benefits, including job creation. Councillor Fane noted that traffic issues were being addressed and that there was overwhelming public support for the proposal. He referred to a comment made by the applicant’s agent that the retailers lined up for the development had stated that, for commercial reasons, they were no longer interested in trading from town centres the size of Northstowe.
By ten votes to one, the Committee refused the application for the reasons set out in the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development.
(Councillors John Batchelor, Ellington, Handley, Heylings, Milnes, Rippeth, Roberts, Topping. Heather Williams and Wilson voted to refuse the application. Councillor Fane voted to approve it.)
The Committee refused the application contrary to the recommendation in the report from the Head of Development Management. Members agreed the reasons for refusal as being
1. That the proposal, by virtue of its bulk, height, massing and overbearing nature, was out of character with the local area, and that the overall design was contrary to Policy DP/2 of the South Cambridgeshire Local Development Framework 2007; and
2. the need for affordable housing in this location is considered to outweigh the benefits of a high specification design.
The Committee approved the application subject to the Conditions set out in the report from the Planning and New Communities Director.
TheCommittee was minded to approve the application subject to satisfactory resolution of outstanding matters, including archaeology, subject to safeguarding conditions.and subject to it being referred to the National Planning Casework and not being called in for determination.
Delegated approval subject to clarification as to the location of the gas main and consultation with the operator of the gas sub-station.
Approval (not delegated) as report.
Approved as report with additional Conditions relating to hours of operation and the use of power equipment. Water recycling to be investigated.
Refused, contrary to report, on the grounds of noise (Policy ES6 of the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2004), the proposed location near to a school, and the loss of car parking spaces (including those lost to queueing).
APPROVAL
APPROVAL
WITHDRAWN
Approval contrary to report. Members felt that the window in the proposed extension was not intrusive and that there was no conflict with Policy HG12 of the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2004.
Refused