Agenda item

The Group Manager – Development Management and Building Control submitted a report containing details of major applications for determination by the committee, including summaries of policy context, representations arising from consultation and publicity and assessment of the applications.

(At this stage of the proceedings, having declared a personal and prejudicial interest Councillor T Foster left the virtual meeting for the following item).

(i)             PA/2020/554 by Mr Steven Ibbotson, Cyden Homes Ltd for hybrid application comprising full planning permission to erect five dwellings and outline planning permission for 94 dwellings with appearance, landscaping, layout and scale reserved for subsequent consideration at land at Brigg Road, access located between 57 and 71 Brigg Road, Messingham.

An objector addressed the committee and expressed his concern to the committee on a number of issues.

Councillor Rose addressed the committee on behalf of local residents in his capacity as Chair of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) Northern Lincolnshire and Regional Chair of CPRE for Yorkshire and the Humber.  The CPRE were concerned about the size of the proposed development and the significant enlargement of the village, the problems of traffic along Brigg Road and the issues of access and egress to the site.  There would also be an increase pressure on local services and amenities and the concern of drainage and sewerage.  It was outside the development boundary of the village and was therefore contrary to policies CS2, CS3 and CS8 of the Core Strategy and policy RD2 of the Local Plan.  There would also be a loss of hedgerows and trees and resulting in a loss of habitats and be contrary to CS5 and CS17 of the Core Strategy.  The proposed site was also subject to flooding.

The applicant spoke in support of the application.  The hybrid application would deliver much needed housing to North Lincolnshire.  Messingham was a sustainable village and had excellent public transport connections to nearby towns and villages.  The applicant had submitted a transport assessment and vehicle movement survey to the council’s Highways department, who had subsequently not objected to the application.  A flood risk assessment had been submitted and a sustainable drainage system would be installed at the site.  There were no adverse impacts to the development that were outweighed by the benefits.

The Chairman read out a letter from Holly Mumby-Croft, the Member of Parliament who served the village of Messingham.  The letter emphasised the problem of flooding at the development site.  The majority of the site was outside the development boundary and was in open countryside.  The proposed site would be detrimental to the character and appearance to the open countryside.  The village infrastructure was also unable to absorb a development of this size and scale.  A number of local residents had contacted the office to share their concerns about the proposed development site.

Councillor Poole, local ward member agreed with the observations made by the two objectors and the local Member of Parliament.  Councillor Poole raised concerns about flood risk and drainage issues at the site and provided the committee with a chronology of flood and sewerage related issues in Messingham.

It was moved by Councillor Evison and seconded by Councillor Hannigan –

That the application be refused for the following reasons -

1.

The proposed development was contrary to policies RD2 of the North Lincolnshire Local Plan, and CS2, CS3 and CS8 of the adopted Core Strategy, in that the majority of the site was located outside of a defined settlement boundary and was not for specific purposes associated with a rural location, which included agriculture, forestry or to meet a special need associated with the countryside.

2.

The proposed development, by virtue of the majority of the site being outside the defined settlement boundary for Messingham and the scale of development proposed, was considered to have a significant urbanising effect on the eastern edge of the settlement by introducing a significant level of built form into the rural landscape, to the detriment of its open character and appearance. Therefore, the development was considered contrary to policies RD2, H5 and DS1 of the North Lincolnshire Local Plan, and CS5 and CS8 of the adopted Core Strategy.

3.

The applicant had failed to demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the local planning authority, that the current drainage system could adequately deal with the foul water or surface water generated by the development.  The proposal was therefore contrary to policies DS14 of the North Lincolnshire Local Plan and CS19 of the North Lincolnshire Core Strategy.

Motion Carried

(ii)            PA/2020/952 by Keadby Developments Ltd for planning permission for the creation of a biodiversity enhancement area (comprising the use of 70,000 cubic metres of excavated soil) at Land north-west and west of Keadby Power Station, Keadby, DN17 3EF.

A representative of the applicant addressed the committee and explained the history of the application.  The applicant was committed to creating a bio-diversity area that enhance the local area.  The site could not be accessible to the public due to it being a working power station, with safety being of paramount importance. 

Councillor Reed, as local ward member spoke on the application, to encourage the applicant to use the excess soil productively to create a community benefit.  Flooding was a real concern in the area.  Using the excess soil to raise the embankment was much more beneficial than it just being left to serve no purpose.

Councillor Briggs addressed the committee as the local ward member and urged the committee to hold a site visit before making a decision.

Resolved - That the application be deferred to the next meeting to allow the committee to visit the site.