Agenda and minutes

To receive any announcements from the chairman, and general housekeeping matters.

None.

To receive notification of any matters which the chairman determines should be considered as urgent business and the special circumstances which have made the matters urgent.

None.

To record the attendance of substitute members, if any, who have been authorised to attend in accordance with the provisions of standing order 17(1), with notification having been given to the proper officer before the start of the meeting and to receive apologies for absence.

Councillor Margaret Turner sent her apologies, Councillor Mike Badcock was her substitute.

To receive any declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests, and other declarations, in respect of items on the agenda for this meeting.  

There were no declarations of interest.

Any statements and/or petitions from members of the public under standing order 33, relating to planning applications, will be made or presented at the meeting.

The speakers’ list was tabled at the meeting.

Any statements and/or petitions from the public under standing order 32 will be made or presented at the meeting.

None.

Residential development of about 2,500 dwellings with associated services and facilities including secondary school, primary schools, local centre (including uses falling within use classes A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, B1, D1 and D2) open space including community Park, and the realignment of Denchworth Road to the south.

Sandra Fryer, Development Management Manager introduced the proposal for the development of the former Grove Airfield site. The application would contribute to addressing the five year housing land supply shortfall; was in the adopted local plan and saved local plan; it is fully compliant with the National Planning Policy Framework.

Geraldine LeCointe, the planning consultant responsible for the case management of this application presented it to the meeting. The application is in outline with all matters reserved, except for details of the Southern Access Road/ Denchworth Road.

The site is 141 hectares; the proposed development will include the following:

·       64 hectares of built development;

·       A community park;

·       Two primary schools;

·       Playing fields;

·       A secondary school;

·       An ecology park.

Although the application is in outline, the following parameters are fixed:

·       the built site;

·       density of the housing;

·       scale – height of the buildings;

·       green infrastructure.

The development would have three main character areas:

·       The “urban core” – this would be built at a higher density and contain many of the facilities;

·       The “rural edge” – this would have lower density buildings, with housing being arranged in an informal village style and would also contain an ecology park;

·       “Park Place” – this would have lower density buildings but would be more formal in layout.

The following development phases are indicated:

·       Phase 1. This would include a primary school and the local centre and also 500 houses;

·       Phase 2. 1000 houses;

·       Phase 3. 1000 houses.

The Northern Link Road is not included as part of the development as the applicant does not control the land over which it would have to pass. There is an intention to use a Grampian condition to secure the Northern Link Road, and it should be put in place before building the 1500^th house.

Sports facilities and pitches.

Sport England had previously been objecting the application. Following further work it has indicated that its strong objections have been set aside as the issues it raised are being addressed.

The Environment Agency has no objections subject to conditions.

The Highways Authority is happy to recommend consent, subject to the infrastructure.

There is an outstanding objection from Network Rail due to the bridleway and are recommending a package to deter people from using it.

Further to the original report, the recommendations have been updated and can be found at the end of this minute.

Frank Parnell, Chairman of Grove Parish Council spoke about this application; his comments are included in full below, and are in Parish Councillor Parnell’s own words:

“Good evening. I’m Frank Parnell chairman of Grove Parish Council and I pleased to welcome the committee and officers of the Vale to Grove for this important meeting.  Thank you for arranging it and I will now proceed to present our concerns with this outline plan, as submitted for approval.

Grove Parish Council notes that the Vale of White Horse District Council has a shortage of housing against government targets, but requests that you either  ...  view the full minutes text for item 471.