The report which can be found on pages 59 – 96 of the Agenda was presented by Matthew Gallagher. The Officer’s recommendation was to approve the reserved matters as outlined on pages 91 – 96 of the Agenda.

Councillor Rice queried whether there were electrical charging points as part of the scheme. He went on to say that there were more electric vehicles used nowadays. Matthew Gallagher answered that there were no electric charging points on the scheme required as part of the planning conditions associated with the outline application which had been granted planning permission by Committee back in 2015. Although the use of electric vehicles had increased in recent years and there could be a potential discussion with the developers about voluntarily installing charging points, the outline application had been agreed already and could not be deviated from to any material degree by imposing a new planning condition.

Councillor Byrne mentioned that the GP surgery within the area of the site already had 13,000 patients and with the extra potential 600 patients from the scheme, there would be additional pressure on the surgery. He went on to say that the access road in and out of the site was narrow. In addition, with there being only one exit from the roundabout to the A13 and the increase in traffic during rush hours, he was concerned that emergency services would not be able to access the site easily when needed.

Referring to Councillor Byrne’s concerns on impact of the scheme to the nearby GP surgery, Matthew Gallagher answered that the outline planning permission had a s106 agreement with a number of secured contributions that included a healthcare contribution of £43,600 which was to be spent towards health care provision in the area of the site. In regards to the road access, Matthew Gallagher explained that the outline planning permission had secured that point of access onto Victoria Road which was fixed within that outline planning permission. He went on to say that the outline application had been considered by this Committee in 2014 and that point of access would have been discussed and agreed by Committee Members at the time. What was for consideration in the application before the Committee was the arrangement of pedestrian and cycle routes within the site.

Matthew Ford added that there had been discussions around the transport assessment in the area of the site which included the access parameters in terms of suitability. The Committee at the time of the outline application, had determined the conditions around the point of access to be considered acceptable following the recommendations of the Highways Team. This had also included accessibility for emergency services in the area, to the town centre and to the train station. The point of access had been looked at in extensive detail and a good resolution had come out of it.

Referring back to Councillor Rice’s earlier point about electric charging points, Matthew Ford said that the outline application was first heard at Committee back in 2014. Electric vehicle charging facilities was not on the national agenda in 2014. Since then, the Highways Team had included electric charging points and a provision of these into their Parking Strategy which would be heard at a future overview and scrutiny committee. He went on to say that the site in the application before the Committee was unique in that there was not many on-street parking provision or parking courts and that parking provision was on an allocated plot. This would enable an easier provision of electric charging points in the properties of the development should there be a demand for these.

Councillor Byrne pointed out that at the time of the outline application, there had not been an A13 project going on or parking permits in place. Matthew Gallagher answered that the outline application had been subject to a condition that had parking provision for the site’s residents in line with the parking management strategy. As the development was not far from the station, the parking management strategy was intended to prevent potential commuter parking as covered by in the conditions. There had been issues and local pressure in regards to the site at the time of the outline application which had been addressed and the Applicant had submitted sufficient parking provision details that would meet the needs of the development.

The Chair noted Councillor Byrne’s concerns and questioned whether there was traffic modelling data that had been taken into consideration for the application at the time. Matthew Gallagher explained that a transport assessment would take into account what could be expected following completion of a development. It also took into account the impacts of known development applications that had been submitted or consented. Adding to this, Matthew Ford said that the transport data looked at future considerations in the area as well as current developments and other factors nearby. Identified junction assessments would also be considered to help determine the cumulative impact and when a transport assessment was received, that data was inputted, assessed accordingly and mitigation would be provided as a result.

The Agent, James Bompas, statement of support was read out by Democratic Services.

Councillor Rice welcomed the scheme and felt it would help to improve the local area and provide new homes that was needed.

Councillor Shinnick proposed the Officer’s recommendation and was seconded by Councillor Rice.

FOR: (8) Councillors Tom Kelly, Mike Fletcher, Gary Byrne, Colin Churchman, Angela Lawrence, David Potter, Gerard Rice and Sue Shinnick.

AGAINST: (0)

ABSTAINED: (0)

18/01660/REM was approved subject to conditions.