Agenda item

Ward

Halliford and Sunbury West

Proposal

Outline application with approval sought for partial approval of access (highway access and primary estate road), with details of access (secondary estate roads), scale, layout, appearance and landscaping reserved, for the demolition of existing buildings and structures and the redevelopment of the site for up to 80 residential units and the provision of open space and a play area, plus associated works for landscaping, parking areas, pedestrian, cycle and vehicular routes.

Recommendation

The application is recommended for approval subject to the conditions and Section 106 agreement set out in the report.

Description:

Outline application with approval sought for partial approval of access (highway access and primary estate road), with details of access (secondary estate roads), scale, layout, appearance and landscaping reserved, for the demolition of existing buildings and structures and the redevelopment of the site for up to 80 residential units and the provision of open space and a play area, plus associated works for landscaping, parking areas, pedestrian, cycle and vehicular routes.

Additional Information:

1.    Amendments are to be made to paragraph 9.3(1) (affordable housing recommendations of the Section 106 agreement) so that it is consistent with the wording in the draft legal agreement:

9.3 (A) Subject to the applicant first entering into an appropriate legal agreement in respect of the following:

1.    To provide at least 40 affordable housing units (Rent: 10 no. 1-bed, 9 no. 2-bed, 9 no. 3-bed, 2 no. 4-bed; Intermediate shared ownership: 1 no. 1-bed, 4 no. 2-bed, 4 no. 3-bed, 1 no. 4-bed) on-site built in accordance with current Homes England development standards, the details of which shall be agreed with the Council’s Planning Development Manager.

·         The split of the type of affordable housing shall be at least 30 for affordable rent and 10 dwellings for intermediate shared ownership.

·         Prior to 6 months of commencement of development the Registered Provider (RP) shall enter into a Nominations Agreement in respect of the affordable housing (in order that the social housing meets local needs).

·         Build and complete the affordable units and hand over to the Registered Provider for occupation before more than 50% of the open market units are occupied. sold or substantially completed, whichever is the sooner.  

2. Condition 26 (Demolition of bungalow) and reason to be deleted, as this will be controlled through the Section 106 agreement.

Public Speaking:

In accordance with the Council’s procedure for speaking at meetings, James Good spoke for the proposed development raising the following key points:

1. The Bugle Nurseries site is set out in the new Spelthorne Local Plan

2. The Local Plan allocation removes a proportion of the site from the Green Belt for new residential development of 80 new homes with the remaining Green Belt land provided for public open space.

3. The officers recommend the application for approval.

4. The residential scheme is needed and would include 40 affordable homes.

5. The public open space would continue to be designated Green Belt and comprise of 6 acres of landscaped green space.

7. The greenspace will be better connected to Halliford Park by a new pedestrian crossing for easier access across Upper Halliford Road.

8. The existing commercial yards and bungalow in the northern part of the site would be removed and returned to greenspace as part of the new public open space.

Debate:

During the debate the following key issues were raised:

1. Concerns were raised about the proximity of the railway line

2. 50% affordable housing was required by the allocation subject to the Section 106 agreement.

3. The application would cement the position of the access road and the developable area.

4. Concerns were raised about impact on the existing volume of traffic on the Upper Halliford Bypass.

5. The amount of parking spaces in the proposal met the parking standards requirement.

6. A pedestrian crossing was part of the proposed application.

7. The sightlines on Upper Halliford Bypass would be preserved.

8. Ward councillors had not received any local objection to the application and were aware of support for the application.

9. The affordable units on site must be allocated from Spelthorne’s housing register as set out in the Draft Section 106 agreement.

Decision:

The Committee resolved to approve the application subject to the prior completion of a Section 106 agreement, and subject to removal of Condition 26.