Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence and notices of substitutions from Members.

Councillors P Elliot, substituted by S Clough, M Foster, substituted by C Renwick.  W Jones, substituted by N Baker.

Members are requested to declare the existence and nature of any disclosable pecuniary interests and/or other interests, not already on their register of interests, in any item on the agenda and withdraw from the meeting at the appropriate time.

Councillor D Cheetham declared an interest in Item 5 of the agenda, NED/23/00923 – DRONFIELD, as a Local Ward Member. He indicated that he would leave the meeting at the appropriate time and would not participate in the Committee’s consideration or determination of the Application.

Any Member who cannot determine an Application solely on the information presented to Committee at the meeting today is asked declare that they are ‘Predetermined’ on that item on the agenda and to withdraw from the meeting at the appropriate time.

None.

To approve as a correct record and the Chair to sign the Minutes of Planning Committee held on 18 June 2024.   

RESOLVED –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 18 June 2024 were approved as a true record.

Planning application for residential development of 132 dwellings (Use Class C3), with highways, landscaping and associated works (Major Development) (Affecting public footpath)at Land north of Burns Drive and East of Southfield Drive on the south side of Chesterfield Road, Dronfield

(Planning Manager – Development Management)

Councillor D Cheetham left the meeting at this point.

The report to Committee explained that an Application had been submitted for the residential development of 130 dwellings, with highways landscaping and associated works, at land to the north of Burns Drive, on the south side of Chesterfield Road, Dronfield. The Application had been referred to Committee by Local Ward Member, Councillor W Jones, who had raised concerns about it. The Planning Manager (Development Management) also considered the Application of strategic importance which he felt should be determined on by Planning Committee.

Planning Committee was recommended to refuse the Application. The report to Committee explained the reasons for this.

Officers felt that although the site had been identified for development in the Local Plan, the proposals in the Application would not reach the standards of good design which would be appropriate to the character and function of the Dronfield settlement. They contended that the development would not respect the local character of the area. It would neither preserve nor enhance the quality and local identity of existing communities and their surroundings.

The report also raised concern about the proposal to locate the Attenuation Tanks for the development on Green Belt land adjacent to the site for the main development. Officers contended that the proposal had not demonstrated that very special circumstances exist to justify the tanks’ location. Furthermore, the proposal would fail to meet its obligation to improve the remaining Green Belt land. The proposed measures would not provide sufficient improvements to environmental quality or accessibility of the remaining Green Belt land to offset the loss because of the scheme.

In addition, officers felt that the Application did not include sufficient plans for adequately managing surface water on site. The proposal fell short of demonstrating that surface water could be effectively managed through sustainable urban drainage systems in perpetuity. Moreover, there would betoo much reliance on small scale measures, including the use of individual gardens.

Finally, the report contended that the proposed development would create an unacceptable relationship between existing properties on Burns Drive and the proposed dwellings along the southern boundary of the site. The existing properties and the new dwellings would be in close proximity to each other, consequently, the development would fail to protect the amenity of both existing residents and future occupiers of the new dwellings.

Officers concluded that the scheme would not be acceptable in its current form. They felt that the development would not represent an acceptable form of design, it would not adequately compensate for the loss of Green Belt land (as required by the relevant Local Plan policy), nor adequately protect the amenity of existing and future occupiers. They recommended, therefore, that the Application be refused. 

Before the Committee considered the application it heard from Local Ward Member Councillor W Jones, Councillor A Dale, representing Dronfield Town Council, S Hallett, M Hanrahan and S Hemsley who spoke against the application. It also heard from the Agent, M Edgar, who spoke  ...  view the full minutes text for item PLA/12/24-25

Full application for the erection of 180 dwellings, including formation of access and associated landscaping and infrastructure (Major Development) at Land North of Spindle Drive and East of Deerlands Road, Wingerworth.

(Planning Manager – Development Management)

Councillor D Cheetham returned to the meeting at this point.

The Chair of the Committee informed Members that he had agreed to defer Item 6 on the Agenda, NED/23/00877/FL – WINGERWORTH. He had done this on the advice of officers, to enable further work to take place.   The Assistant Director of Planning and the Planning Manager (Development Management) clarified that the deferral followed on from the request of the Applicant to address the various outstanding matters relating to the Application. 

Residential development of 64 dwellings (bungalows, two-storey flats and 2, 3 & 4 bed two-storey houses) with associated parking, landscaping and Sustainable Urban Drainage system (SUDs). Community sports pavilion, outdoor seating areas, storage and parking provision. Community play equipment and outdoor gym equipment, 3 full size football pitches, new Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) & skate-park. Landscaping and tree planting to recreational green space (Major Development) (Amended Plans) (Further Amended Plans) at Land to the South of 38 Chesterfield Road, North Wingfield.

(Planning Manager – Development Management)

The report to Committee explained that an Application had been submitted for the residential development of 64 dwellings with associated parking, landscaping and Sustainable Urban Drainage system, Community sports pavilion, outdoor seating areas, storage and parking provision. Community play equipment and outdoor gym equipment, 3 full size football pitches, new Multi-Use Games Area & skate-park. Landscaping and tree planting to recreational green space. At land south of 38 Chesterfield Road, North Wingfield. The Application had been referred to committee by Local Ward Member, Councillor N Barker, due to the significance of the site.

Planning Committee was recommended to refuse the Application. The report to Committee explained the reasons for this.

Officers accepted that there was a proven need for the proposed affordable accommodation in the local area. They also accepted that the design of the scheme would be broadly acceptable and would, with suitable conditions, adequately protect the amenity of both existing and future occupants. 

However, the Application also included proposals to improve the quality of the recreation facilities, with the construction of a new sports pavilion, football pitches and car park. The funding for this construction had not yet been secured by the Parish Council, who are proposing to provide this. Officers were concerned that unless this funding was secured there could be no guarantee that these facilities would ever come forward. Without this guarantee they determined that the Development would result in the loss of 2 hectares of recreation space contrary to the Local Plan. The loss of recreation space was also objected to by Sports England. Additionally, the viability of the proposal to make the financial contributions sought under a Section 106 agreement was seen as insufficient. This meant that the development would be unable to mitigate for the harm caused to existing infrastructure and facilities.

Officers concluded that the loss of recreation provision and social mitigation deficit would outweigh the benefits arising from the provision of 64 affordable housing units. They recommended, therefore, that the application be refused.

Before the Committee considered the application it heard from the Chair of North Wingfield Parish Council, Councillor N Barker, who spoke in favour of the Application and H Watton who spoke against it. It also heard from the Applicant, A Hutton, and the Agent, M Jermy.

Committee considered the application. It took into account the need for affordable housing for rent in the area, as well as the proportion of the development on brownfield land. It considered the relevant Local and National Planning Policies. These included Local Plan Policy LC3 concerning affordable housing development in the countryside, Local Plan Policy ID10 concerning the provision of recreational space, and Local Plan Policy ID1 concerning the mitigation of harm caused to infrastructure and facilities. Committee also considered the extent to which the current recreational space is ‘out of service’.

Members discussed the application. Committee welcomed the proposed quality of affordable housing, especially due the current demand in the North Wingfield area. Some Members supported the proposed improvements to the recreational  ...  view the full minutes text for item PLA/14/24-25

(Planning Manager – Development Management)

The report to Committee explained that seven appeals had been lodged, one had been allowed and seven had been dismissed.

To consider any other matter which the Chair is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency.

None.