Issue - meetings

To consider the attached report of the District Development Management Committee with regard to planning application EPF/0637/18 (The Lodge, Woolston Hall, Chigwell), which was referred to the Council by the Committee at its meeting on 1 August 2018.

Mover: Councillor S. Jones, Vice-Chairman of District Development Management Committee

Councillor S. Jones advised that the application had been considered at the Plans South Sub-Committee on 27 June 2018 and District Development Management Committee on 1 August 2018, resulting in the application being considered by Council by means of the minority reference procedure set out in the Council’s constitution (Rule M2).

The Service Director, Planning Services presented the report regarding a planning application for permission of a residential infill comprising 12 no. residential dwelling houses with associated off-street parking, garden space and external landscaping at The Lodge, Woolston Hall, Chigwell, subject to the completion of a legal agreement (Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990) by 31 March 2019 and associated conditions.

Amendment moved by Councillor J. Philip and Seconded by Councillor C.C. Pond

That planning application EPF/0637/18 at The Lodge, Woolston Hall, Abridge Road, Chigwell be refused planning permission for the following reasons:

(1)          The proposed development constitutes inappropriate development detrimental to a fundamental aim of the Green Belt to safeguard the countryside from encroachment.  The proposal would have a materially detrimental impact on the openness of the Green Belt contrary to the purposes of including the land in the Green Belt and does not meet any exception to the principle of Green Belt policy. The change of use of landscaped area to housing would be detrimental to visual amenity due to its urbanising effect and would unduly diminish the rural character and openness of the landscape. There are no very special circumstances that outweigh the harm from the development. The proposal is contrary to Policies GB2A; GB7A; CP2 (i), (ii), (iv), and (v); DBE4 (i); and LL1(i), LL2 (i) and (ii) of the adopted Local Plan and Alterations; Policies SP 6 and DM 4 of the Epping Forest District Local Plan Submission Version (2017); and, the provisions of the National Planning Policy Framework.

(2)          The proposal would fail to provide any on site Affordable Housing, contrary to Policies H5A, H6A, H7A and H8A of the adopted Local Plan and Alterations; Policies H1 D. and H2 of the Epping Forest District Local Plan Submission Version (2017); and, the provisions of the National Planning Policy Framework, particularly at paragraph 50.

(3)          The proposal is not within a sustainable location and would therefore result in a development heavily reliant on private motor vehicles. As such the proposal does not sufficiently meet the measures identified in policy regarding sustainable development, in particular with regard to policies CP1 (v), and CP6 (iii) of the Epping Forest District Local Plan and Alterations (2006); policy T 1 B. of the Epping Forest District Local Plan Submission Version (2017); and, the provisions of the National Planning Policy Framework, particularly at paragraph 95.

(4)          The application does not provide sufficient information to satisfy the Council, as competent authority, that the proposed development will not adversely affect the integrity of the Epping Forest Special Area for Conservation and there are no alternative solutions or imperative  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40

To consider the attached report.

The Assistant Director (Development Management) presented a report with regard to a proposed residential infill comprising twelve residential dwelling houses with associated off-street parking, garden space and external landscaping at The Lodge, Woolston Hall, Chigwell.

Members noted that the application been considered by Area Plans Sub-Committee South at its meeting on 27 June 2018, at which time it had been referred to the District Development Management Committee for consideration with a recommendation that planning permission be refused in accordance with the recommendation of the Assistant Director (Development Management), on the application of the minority reference procedure set out in the Council’s constitution (Rule M2).

The Assistant Director (Development Management) reported that the application site was an open parcel of land to the northwest of The Lodge, with its southwestern boundary being an access road to Woolston Manor. Members were advised that the north-eastern boundary of the site was an avenue leading to a leisure complex and that a building and a former motel accommodating flats was situated to the northwest of the site. The Assistant Director (Development Management) reported that site was off the highway of Abridge Road, between the village of Abridge and Chigwell and was within the Green Belt. Members noted that trees along the avenue to the northeast of the application site were the subject of Tree Preservation Orders and that The Lodge was a locally listed building, with the northernmost boundary of the site being 120m from the Listed Building.

The Assistant Director (Development Management) reported that the proposed dwellings would be laid out in four terraces each of three houses, running north/south, parallel with and facing the vehicular access to Woolston Hall. Members were advised that each terrace would have its own appearance, whilst also providing overall unity of design to all four and that each of the houses would have three storeys, an integral garage and four bedrooms and an area of communal open space at the southernmost end of the site.

The Committee was advised that the main issue with regard to the proposed development was considered to be Green Belt policy. Other considerations included the provision of affordable housing, the implications of the Submission Version of the Epping Forest District Local Plan, the affect of the development on the setting within the landscape, sustainability, the quality of the design in terms of appearance, highway matters, the possible affect on heritage assets, the impact on neighbouring properties and whether the proposal would offer adequate amenity to future occupiers. The Assistant Director (Development Management) reported that a financial contribution for the provision of off-site affordable housing of £1,624,533 had been offered by the applicant, which had been verified by a consultant acting for the Council. Members were advised however, that no legal agreement had been submitted as part of the application and that Policy I1A required that, in appropriate circumstances, a legal agreement be in place prior to the grant of planning permission.

The Assistant Director (Development Management) reported that the proposal  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9