Agenda and draft minutes

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The Chair announced to those present that the meeting would be live streamed.

The evacuation procedure was noted.

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes were approved and signed as a correct record by the Chair.

The planning protocol was noted.

Members were advised that correspondence had recently been received from Walker Morris, acting on behalf of Avant Homes, raising several concerns regarding the above applications, and issues that it considered needed to be presented to the Committee to assist with its decision making.

Officers considered that, while some of the matters raised carried little substance, there were technical issues requiring further consideration to ensure that the committee was fully informed, before it considered the applications and made decisions.

It was therefore recommended that consideration of item 21/0249/REM Tithebarns Fields Land West of Harrowgate Lane, Stockton on Tees be deferred, with a view to it being considered, by the Committee, at Septembers 2026 planning committee meeting.

RESOLVED that consideration of application 21/0249/REM Tithebarns Fields Land West of Harrowgate Lane as detailed above of the published agenda, be deferred.

Members were advised that correspondence had recently been received from Walker Morris, acting on behalf of Avant Homes, raising several concerns regarding the above applications, and issues that it considered needed to be presented to the Committee to assist with its decision making.

Officers considered that, while some of the matters raised carried little substance, there were technical issues requiring further consideration to ensure that the committee was fully informed, before it considered the applications and made decisions.

It was therefore recommended that consideration of item 21/1599/REM Tithbarns Fields, Land West of Harrowgate Lane, Stockton on Tees be deferred, with a view to it being considered, by the Committee, at Septembers 2026 planning committee meeting.

RESOLVED that consideration of application 21/1599/REM Tithbarns Fields, Land West of Harrowgate Lane, Stockton on Tees as detailed above of the published agenda, be deferred.

Members were advised that correspondence had recently been received from Walker Morris, acting on behalf of Avant Homes, raising several concerns regarding the above applications, and issues that it considered needed to be presented to the Committee to assist with its decision making.

Officers considered that, while some of the matters raised carried little substance, there were technical issues requiring further consideration to ensure that the committee was fully informed, before it considered the applications and made decisions.

It was therefore recommended that consideration of item 21/2130/FUL Land at Harrowgate Lane, Bishopgarth, Stockton on Tees.  Application for the erection of 54 Dwellings to include access, Parking, open space and associated infrastructure be deferred, with a view to it being considered, by the Committee, at Septembers 2026 planning committee meeting.

RESOLVED that consideration of application 21/2130/FUL Land at Harrowgate Lane, Bishopgarth, Stockton on Tees.  Application for the erection of 54 Dwellings to include access, Parking, open space and associated infrastructure as detailed above of the published agenda, be deferred.

Consideration was given to an application for the erection of a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA), including floodlighting, associated enclosures and footpaths at High Clarence Primary School, Port Clarence.

Members were advised that no objections had been received from neighbouring residents or statutory consultees. The proposal had been assessed against the relevant Local Plan policies and the National Planning Policy Framework and was considered acceptable in terms of its visual impact, the character of the area and residential amenity, subject to appropriate conditions.

Biodiversity Net Gain would be achieved on site, principally through grassland and hedgerow enhancements along the western and southern boundaries.

Officers advised of an amendment to Condition 7 relating to floodlighting to include reference to Bank Holidays (to be same as Sunday hours), ensuring consistency with the hours-of-use condition.

An additional condition was also recommended requiring the development to be carried out in accordance with the recommendations contained within the submitted Preliminary Ecological Appraisal.

Members sought clarification regarding the condition requiring an unexploded ordnance risk assessment, noting that this was unusual in a planning application. Officers explained that the matter had arisen through consultation with Environmental Health and consideration of contaminated land. Although the risk was considered relatively low, the condition would ensure appropriate checks were undertaken before excavation works commenced.

Members welcomed the development and the additional facilities it would provide for the Port Clarence community.

RESOLVED that the application 25/1608/FUL be APPROVED, subject to the conditions set out in the report and the amendments/additional condition detailed above.

The Committee considered Quarter 1 2026/27 data for compliance caseloads and performance.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.