Issue - meetings

Consideration was given to planning application 25/1330/OUT Land East Of Holdenfields Farm, Green Lane, Yarm.

Planning permission was sought for Outline planning application with all matters reserved except access for up to 600 dwellings.

The application site was outwith the development limits, however the Council could not demonstrate a five year supply of housing and therefore the benefits of the scheme had been weighed against the harm as detailed in the report.

The development had received a significant number of objections which had been considered in full and there were no sustainable planning reasons to refuse the development.

The consultees that had been notified and the comments that had been received were detailed within the main report.

Neighbours were notified and the comments received were detailed within the main report.

The planning policies and material planning considerations that were relevant to the consideration of the application were contained within the main report.

The Planning Officers report concluded that In view of the considerations set out within the main report, the application be recommended for approval with conditions as detailed within the officers report.

Objectors attended the meeting and were given the opportunity to make representation. Their comments could be summarised as follows:

- Concerns were raised relating to the impact on highways and capacity overload on the local traffic network. Should this application be approved, there would be over an additional 1000 vehicles exacerbating the situation further.

- There were 2 roundabouts and 4 junctions on Green Lane with reports of up to 28 vehicles frequently backed up to the junction of Kirk Road.

- Would Kirk Road junction have traffic lights should the proposal go ahead?

- Questions were raised relating to when the last traffic report had been undertaken as it was believed to have been in 2016.

-  Where was the road safety audit within the transport assessment?

-  Where would the financial contributions for education and NHS be spent?

- Due to the lack of a 5-year housing supply developers were able to submit applications outside the limits of development.

- The councils 5-year housing supply estimates were called into question as there were as many as 2300 houses (2.8 years) excluded from the 5-year housing supply.

- The application should be refused on the grounds of adverse impact on the area outweighing the benefits.

- Accumulative traffic impact must be assessed in terms of historic buildings and landscape with associated noise and air pollution impacting on the ambient setting of Yarm High Street.

- Yarm High Street was a conservation area and the local plan protected it.

- Reference was made to a previous application 19/0345/OUT at Handley Cross, Leven Bank, Yarm  for the erection of up to 7 dwelling’s and which was refused by the Planning Committee and lost at appeal.  The inspectorate concluded that the proposal would appear as an incongruous form of suburban development in an important countryside gap. The site at Handley Cross was in close proximity to this application site.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 61