Agenda and minutes

The Chair and Vice Chair of the Committee, Councillor L Hartshorne and Councillor T Lacey, welcomed new and returning Members to the meeting. They asked that the former Chair and Vice Chair of the Committee, Mrs Diana Ruff and Mr Alan Powell, be thanked for ensuring that all Members could make a valuable contribution to its meetings.

The Chair of the Committee stated that Applications NED/21/01472/FL and NED/21/01468/FL, would not be taken at today’s meeting. The Applications were included at Item 5 and Item 6 on the Agenda. Members were informed that these Applications had been submitted by the Council and both sought permission for ‘Amenity Land’ sites to now be reallocated for use as additional parking spaces. He explained that as the new Administration intended to review the Council’s Parking Strategy, it would not be appropriate for Committee to determine on these specific applications until the review had been completed.

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

Apologies were received from Councillor D Hancock and from Councillor N Morley. 

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.

None. 

To approve as a correct record and the Chair to sign the Minutes of Planning Committee held on 25 April 2023.     

The minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 21 March 2023 were approved as a true record. 

Outline Application for a Residential Development, comprising up to 30 dwellings, and other associated works, at land to the rear of 14A to 54 High Street, Stonebroom. (Major Development, affecting Public Rights of Way.)

(Planning Manager – Development Management)

The report to Committee explained that an Outline Planning Application had been submitted for a residential development of up to 30 dwellings, along with informal open space, the creation of public rights of way and other associated works, at land to the rear of 14 to 54 High Street, Stonebroom. The Application had been referred to Committee by Local Ward Member, Councillor C Cupit, who had raised concerns about it.

Planning Committee was recommended to approve the Application, subject to conditions. The report to Committee explained the reasons for this.

The proposed development would be located on a suitable site, identified for use as housing in the Local Plan. The developers had also agreed to make a financial contribution through a Section 106 Agreement (an agreement between the Council and developer to help offset the impact of a development on local infrastructure) towards education, a Traffic Regulation Order on High Street, health services at Chesterfield Hospital and open space enhancements, if the development was approved.

Officers contended that the development would accord with the relevant local and national planning policies. Although there were a range of technical matters, such as the presence of Japanese Knotweed on the site, these could be addressed by suitability worded conditions or informative notes. As there were no material issues that would outweigh its accordance with the development plan Officers recommended that the Committee should approve the Application.

Before the Committee considered the Application it heard from Councillor C Cupit, M Kimber, J Smith and A Cooper, who spoke against the Application. It also heard from  S Ellis, who explained the position of Chesterfield Hospital in relation to its request for additional finance to offset the impact of the development on its services and the Agent, D Phillips, who spoke on behalf of the Application.

Committee considered the Application. It took into account the site’s location within the Settlement Development Limit for Stonebroom and its allocation for housing in the Local Plan and the relevant Local and National Planning Policies. These included, Local Plan Policy LC1 setting out housing allocations in the District and Local Plan Policy SS2 on the distribution of development and the status of Stonebroom as a ‘Level Two’ settlement, with good levels of sustainability and Local Plan Policy ID1, on securing the infrastructure and other facilities required for development to proceed.

Members discussed the Application. They reflected on the contribution that the development would make to meeting housing needs in the District. They noted that a fifth of the new dwellings that would be classed as affordable housing and that this would be in line with Local Plan Policy LC2, requiring that major developments for housing should provide 20% of new dwellings as affordable housing in those areas of the District, such as this, which were not high value locations.

Committee discussed the concerns which had been raised about flooding problems on the access to the site and the measures that would be put in place by the developers to combat  ...  view the full minutes text for item PLA/5/23-24

Installation of domestic vertical wind turbine at Overholme Farm, Main Road, Cutthorpe. (Resubmission of previously refused Application 22/00871/FL) (Amended Plans)

(Planning Manager – Development Management)

The report to Committee explained that a Planning Application had been submitted for the installation of a Domestic Wind Turbine at Overholme Farm, Main Road, Cutthorpe. The Application was a resubmission of Application NED 22/00871/FL, which had previously been refused and involved Amended Plans. The Application had been referred to Committee by Local Ward Member, Councillor M Thacker MBE, who had raised issues about it.

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

Members were informed that under the National Planning Policy Framework the installation of wind turbines is only acceptable in areas specifically identified for them in the Development Plan.  As the District does not have such designated areas and so permission could not be granted for the turbine and in any case , the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt, which would impact adversely on the openness of the Green Belt. Officers did not believe that there were any special circumstances to offset this harm and so recommended that the Application should be rejected.

Before the Committee considered the Application, it heard from J Robinson, the Applicant and D Catton, who both spoke in support of the Application. No one spoke against the Application.

Committee considered the Application. It took into account the Principle of Development and the site’s location in the countryside, to the north of the defined settlement of Cutthorpe. It also took into account the relevant planning policies, including Local Plan Policy SDC10, and nthe circumstances when proposals for renewal energy would be permitted and Paragraph 158 of the National Planning Policy Framework on the circumstances when new wind energy installations would be permissible.

Members discussed the Application. They reflected on the as yet unadopted Brampton Parish Neighbourhood Plan, which would support small scale proposals for renewable and low carbon installations. Some Members highlighted the different circumstances in which the installation of the turbine would be permitted. They felt that the Application should be approved, given the potential carbon reduction benefits. Some Members regretted that no areas for wind energy had been designated, but felt that until this had happened for this location the installation would contravene planning policy.

At the conclusion of the discussion, Councillor M Rouse and T Lacey moved and seconded a Motion to refuse the Application. The Motion was put the vote and was agreed.

RESOLVED

That the Application is refused, in line with officer recommendations.

Reasons

1     Footnote 54 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states that except for applications for the repowering of existing wind turbines, a proposed wind energy development involving one or more turbines should not be considered acceptable unless it is in an area identified as suitable for wind energy development in the development plan; and, following consultation, it can be demonstrated that the planning impacts identified by the affected local community have been fully addressed and the proposal has their backing.

Footnote 54 effectively precludes the installation of wind turbines in areas  ...  view the full minutes text for item PLA/6/23-24

(Planning Manager – Development Management)

The report to Committee explained that two appeals had been allowed, one appeal had been dismissed and that four had been dismissed.

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

None.