Agenda and draft minutes

The evacuation procedure was noted.

There were no declarations of interest.

For approval and signature.

Consideration was given to the Planning Committee minutes from the meeting held on 10 April 2024.

RESOLVED that the minutes be approved and signed as a correct record by the Chair.

The Planning Protocol was noted.

Consideration was given to planning application 23/088/OUT Land off Stoney Wood Drive, Wynyard, TS22 5SN.

At the Planning Committee meeting on the 10 April 2024, Members deferred the decision for the planning application in order to address outstanding concerns in respect of ecology, given the information contained within the submitted ecology report.

In the intervening period, further survey work had been conducted on-site by suitably qualified ecologists to update the report and clarify the outstanding ecological matters.

Those surveys confirmed the original findings that the site was of low ecological value and no further survey work was required to be completed.

All material planning considerations remained as outlined within the original committee report unless otherwise addressed within the Officers report and the matter was referred back to Planning Committee to make a decision on the merits of the scheme following the additional ecological information.

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 it was considered that the proposed development would remain consistent with the Local Plan for the reasons as detailed within the report.

On balance the scheme was considered to remain a sustainable location and in view of the other material considerations outlined in the original report, was acceptable in planning terms.

The Applicants Agent attended the meeting and was given the opportunity to make representation. Their comments could be summarised as follows:

. Since the previous Planning Committee meeting where Members were minded to defer the application requesting further clarification of the ecological report. This had now been updated following a survey which was carried out during April 2024. The original conclusion remained the same, and there was no additional impact on the site. It was also confirmed that the site had low ecological value and there were no protected species recorded.

. There had been no technical objections from statutory consultees relating to ecological matters.

. The trees that had been removed from the site were done so due to storm damage, however other trees remained on the site.

An objector attended the meeting and was given the opportunity to make representation. Their comments could be summarised as follows:

. The original planning application 13/0342/EIS for the Wynyard Village Extension was approved with a maximum of 500 homes. A further planning application, 20/2408/EIS was approved for 130 houses, and as well as the proposed application for 2 dwellings, there was a further application 22/2579/FUL for 135 houses for consideration today. If all proposed developments gained approval that would increase the original plan from 500 to 767 homes.

. The proposed 2 dwellings sat at the red line edge of the original outline application which was granted for 500 homes. The land should remain as public  ...  view the full minutes text for item P/13/24

Consideration was given to planning application 22/2579/FUL Land at Wynyard Village.

The application site was situated towards the south west of the existing Wynyard residential estate and parkland surrounding Wynyard Hall. The land predominately consisted of a series of agricultural fields with woodland plantations (conifers).

The site had previously benefited from an outline application with all matters reserved was approved for the construction of up to 500 houses, Primary School (inc Sport Facilities) and nursery, Retail Units (up to 500 sqm), Doctors Surgery, Community Facilities, access and associated landscaping, footpaths and open space under application refence 13/0342/EIS. That application has been developed without this area of land being required and was included as a housing commitment site within the adopted Local Plan.

A further outline planning approval with all matters reserved except access for residential development for up to 130 units and new local centre was agreed by planning committee and approved in December 2022 with the subsequent reserved matters planning application (ref; 22/2561/REM) for the housing element being approved last summer. In March an application for that local centre was submitted and remains under consideration (ref; 24/0430/REM).

The application sought planning approval for 135 residential properties and would provide a mix of 2, 3, 4 and 5 bedroomed properties which were predominately two storey in scale, although 11 of the properties would be single storey. The submitted plans indicated the application being developed by the applicant Cameron Hall Developments and Banks Homes.

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 the proposed development site sat within the defined settlement limits and was identified as an area of housing land within the Local Plan and Wynyard Masterplan. It was acknowledged that the proposals would result in an addition 135 units coming forward and that combined with an additional phase already approved (refs; 20/2408/OUT, 22/2561/REM and 23/0888/OUT) this would result in an uplift in housing of 267 units compared to the local plan housing commitment. However, the overall density along this housing commitment would remain less than 10 dwellings per hectare and would retain the ‘executive housing’ character of Wynyard Village.

As detailed within the officer’s report, the proposed development was considered to be visually acceptable, and it was not considered that the proposed development would have any adverse impacts on levels of residential amenity or highway safety to justify a refusal of the application.

The proposed scheme was therefore in accordance with the relevant local and national planning policies and was recommended for approval subject to those conditions outlined within the report with the final wording of those conditions delegated to the Planning Services Manager to allow for minor amendments to working to allow for phasing.

Prior  ...  view the full minutes text for item P/14/24

Consideration was given to planning application 24/0302/FUL Oxbridge Lane Primary School, Oxbridge Lane, Stockton on Tees.

Oxbridge Lane Primary School was located over two sites. The main site was located along the south of Oxbridge Lane and to the east at the rear of Marlborough Road and to the west of the railway was the existing nursery site which included an existing multi-use games area.

Planning permission was sought to provide three new extensions at the school which would assist in providing new facilities which included a kitchen, entrance/lobby area, classrooms, and plant area. To facilitate these new additions, part of the school buildings would be demolished which were later additions and in poor condition.

The works would provide a new western access to the playground and a new entrance from the east to the new nursery area. The existing care takers building and southern wall which was in need of repair would be demolished providing a more useable outdoor play area. The rear wall would be replaced with a slightly lower wall at 2.4 metres high and along the southern boundary space storage provision would be provided. In addition to the above the building works solar panels and air source heat pumps would be installed.

During the construction phase a temporary modular building would be placed on the current nursery site to the east; the existing Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) would be removed. Once completed this would be removed together with the existing nursery building. Part of the site would then be planted to create a forest and a new MUGA would be created.

The application came before Members as it fell outside the definition of minor development with the scheme of delegation.

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 the site was an existing school within the development limits, and therefore the principle of re-developing the site for continued education use was already established. The proposed scheme accorded with local plan policies SD6 and TI2, supporting the education needs of the local community.

Overall, the scale of the development was acceptable, and it was considered the site could accommodate the development proposed without any undue impact on the amenity of any adjacent neighbours and therefore should be approved subject to the conditions and informatives contained within the main report.

Members were given the opportunity to ask questions / make comments. These could be summarised as follows:

. The school was in long need of refurbishment and the proposal was welcomed.

A vote took place, and the application was approved.

RESOLVED that planning application 24/0302/FUL be approved subject to the following conditions and informatives below;

Time Limit

01 The development hereby permitted shall be begun  ...  view the full minutes text for item P/15/24