Agenda item

P14/V1663/FUL - Land to the south of Blenheim Hill, Harwell

Construction of 80 dwellings with associated open space, roads and parking provision.

Minutes:

The officer presented the report and addendum on application P14/V1663/FUL to construct 80 dwellings and associated open space, roads and parking provision on land south of Blenheim Hill, Harwell.  Consultations, representations, policy and guidance and the site’s planning history were detailed in the officer’s report which formed part of the agenda pack for this meeting. 

 

Mrs Convery, a representative of the parish council, spoke objecting to the application raising concerns about:

·         the amount of housing development in Harwell that was not included in the local plan

·         consistency of application of planning policy

·         the proposed development was unsustainable and too far from village services

·         the site encroached on the rural gap to Didcot

 

Peter Hobin spoke in objection to the application about:

·         poor access from the site to the village centre

·         poor drainage at the site

·         some of the proposed buildings were higher than the existing adjacent buildings, giving a visually obtrusive appearance

·         the development would be visible from some footpaths in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, contrary to local plan policy NE9

·         the development would have an adverse impact on values of nearby property

·         erosion of the gap to Didcot, contrary to local plan policy NE10

·         poor social cohesion of the site to the remainder of the village

·         the development being unsustainable

 

Ken Dijksman, the applicant’s agent, spoke in favour of the application, believing that the proposed development had been carefully re-designed to make the best use of the site. 

 

Dr Keith Beswick spoke in support of the application, believing that the A34 already bisected the village, separating it from the part of Great Western Park that was within Harwell’s parish boundary.  The proposed development site, to the west of the A34, would be assimilated into the village. 

 

The committee considered the application, with advice from officers where appropriate; the discussion covering the following points:

·         the committee had to consider this application against the lack of a five-year housing land supply in the district and therefore it became sustainable in planning terms

·         it could not be refused on the grounds of distance from the site to the village facilities

·         the housing numbers proposed for the site had been reduced

·         there had been no objection from the highways authority

·         the development would bring affordable housing

·         the site was well-contained visually

·         the adjacent properties in The Cleave were protected

·         there should be an additional condition to determine slab levels

·         there should be an additional condition to require a communal television aerial on the apartment block

 

RESOLVED (11 votes for; 1 against; and 2 abstentions)

 

To authorise the head of planning in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the committee to approve planning permission on application P14/V1663/FUL, subject to the completion of section 106 agreements with the county and district councils to secure contributions to local infrastructure and affordable housing, and subject to the following conditions:

  1. TL1 – Time limit – One year
  2. Approved plans listed
  3. Submission of material samples including panel on site
  4. Submission of Building Details
  5. Submission of boundary treatments
  6. Removal of permitted development rights – garage conversions.
  7. Full details of bin and bike storage for flats.
  8. Landscaping scheme required to be submitted and approved.
  9. Implementation of landscaping scheme
  10. Tree Protection to be submitted and agreed
  11. Sustainable Drainage Scheme to be agreed and provided
  12. Foul water drainage strategy including upgrade works to be agreed and implemented pre commencement.
  13. Upgrade to water main within Blenheim Hill to be carried out prior tocommencement.
  14. Development in accordance with Flood Risk Assessment
  15. Implementation of Programme or Archaeological Work
  16. Contamination Investigation to be submitted and agreed
  17. Construction Traffic Management Plan to be agreed
  18. Residential Travel Plan to be submitted and agreed.
  19. Access including vision splays as approved plan.
  20. Parking and turning in accordance with approved plan.
  21. New estate roads to Oxfordshire County Council specification.
  22. Footpath works to be implemented prior to first occupation in accordance with details to be submitted.
  23. No drainage to highway.
  24. No obstructions of the public right of way across the site. 
  25. No damage to the surface of the public rights of way. 
  26. Slab level details to be submitted. 
  27. Communal television aerial on the apartment block.

Supporting documents: