Agenda item

42/22/0062 - Application for the approval of Reserved Matters following Outline Application 42/14/0069 for the appearance, landscaping, layout and scale for the erection of 20 No. dwellings, hard and soft landscaping , car parking including garages, internal access roads, footpaths and circulation areas, public open space and drainage with associated infrastructure and engineering works comprising Parcel H1f(i) on land west of Comeytrowe Lane, Taunton, Orchard Grove, Land at Comeytrowe/Trull, Taunton

Minutes:

Comments from members of the public included;

(summarised)

 

·         Concerns that the developers had yet again changed their plans to defer remediation;

·         Concerns with contamination on the industrial site;

·         Concerns with Asbestos on the estate;

·         Concerns regarding possible anthrax contamination at the site;

·         Concerns that no contamination Condition was proposed;

·         Concerns with the change of the boundary line;

·         Road concerns for vehicular access, this was not needed;

·         Clarity sought on EV charging points;

·         The roads needed to be prioritised for walking and cycling over car usage;

·         Residents requested that more trees be put into the application;

·         Orchard Grove was first identified for the allocation of 2,000 homes more than a decade ago; and has since been allocated by both the Council’s adopted Core Strategy and its Site Allocations Plan. During this time, the Applicants have committed to working in partnership with the Council to help deliver this important site;

·         At 25%, the level of affordable homes to be provided exceeds both the requirements of the S106 agreement and the council’s affordable housing policy, with Vistry and LiveWest committed to helping the Council increase the number of quality affordable homes in Taunton;

·         The Applicant scheme comprises high quality, well-designed, energy efficient homes. All homes have allocated parking in accordance with the local parking policy requirements as well as secure cycle storage within sheds or garages. All properties include an EV charging facility and as detailed within the approved Energy Statement, the carbon saving of each dwelling exceeds Building Regulations.

·         The landscaping proposed for this parcel includes trees on all streets, hedges and shrubs to provide boundaries, landscaping within parking areas and within rear gardens. The overall comprehensive and high-quality landscape scheme will provide substantial areas of new public open space for future residents to enjoy;

·         In addition to the above, the scheme has been designed in accordance with approved outline planning permission; the approved Design Guide for the Urban Extension; and the design policies contained within your Local Plan;

·         There are no outstanding technical objections to the Reserved Matter proposal from any of the consultees;

·         As was the case for the neighbouring Phases, this application for Phase H1Fi is also supported by a comprehensive and detailed Phosphate Mitigation Strategy for the site, which has been prepared in consultation with SWT, Somerset County and Natural England over several months. The final submitted report has been endorsed by Natural England as a robust strategy, which provides a firm basis for SWT to again reach a conclusion of no adverse effect on the integrity of the protected sites;

 

Comments made by Members included;

(summarised)

 

·         Contaminated land concerns;

·         We need to specify the trees to be planted so that they do not look artificial and were the correct type for the area;

·         Higher graded EV charging points need to be installed for a quick charge;

·         Pleased that this site has affordable housing funding;

·         Concerns how the contamination in the ground will affect future builds on the site;

·         Concerns with the lack of solar panels on the site;

 

Councillor Hill proposed, and Councillor Aldridge seconded a motion that planning permission be GRANTED subject to conditions. The committee voted on 2 additional conditions. 1. In conjunction with the tree officer to increase the number of native trees on site and 2. A specification for EV charging to be submitted;

 

The motion was carried.

 

Supporting documents: