Agenda item

To determine the application.

David Rowen presented the report to members.

Members received a presentation, in accordance with the public participation procedure, from Matthew Hall, the agent. Mr Hall stated that members will remember this application which was supported by the committee in 2023 for exactly the same proposal, a small scale development of four bungalows on a site set between existing properties, with it being seen on the Google image that there is a lot of development around it. He stated that he has submitted an ecology report and contamination report and there are no objections, with the site all being within Flood Zone 1.

Mr Hall made the point that the previous application expired mid to late 2025 and there has been a lot of interest in the site. He feels the officer’s report sums up the situation well and it is recommended for approval.

Members asked questions of Mr Hall as follows:

·       Councillor Mrs French asked if Mr Hall had been to the site recently as she visited the site and thought someone had thrown a bomb in the road. She asked if there are any plans to do something with Flaggrass Hill Road? Mr Hall responded that he was at the site three weeks ago, but this application does not include any improvements to Flaggrass Hill Road.

·       Councillor Benney expressed the view that from being down Flaggrass Hill Road in relation to an application at last month’s committee to visiting this site for this application the road has deteriorated significantly in the past month and asked if he could find something in the budget to fill the holes in. Councillor Connor interjected that Mr Hall did not have to answer this as it is a highway issue.

·       Councillor Purser asked if there is a reason why the site has not been developed within the timeframe? Mr Hall responded that there was a lot of interest in the site and there was, to his knowledge, at least 2 parties, not from this area, who progressed quite a long way and then one dropped away due to not being able to secure the funding and the other just dropped away. He added that one of them wanted the applicant to sign an agreement to stage payments based on profit, which they would not do, with this taking ages and it just expired.

Members made comments, asked questions and received responses as follows:

·       Councillor Mrs French made the point that it has already received planning permission which has unfortunately run out, and she does not see anything different on this application, and it should be approved.

·       Councillor Purser agreed.

Proposed by Councillor Purser, seconded by Councillor Imafidon and agreed that the application be GRANTED as per the officer’s recommendation.

(Councillor Benney declared that the agent has undertaken work for Chatteris Town Council and himself personally, but he is not pre-determined and will consider the application with an open mind)

(Councillors Mrs French registered, in accordance with Paragraph 14 of the Code of Conduct on Planning Matters, that she is a member of March Town Council but takes no part in planning)

(Councillor Imafidon declared that he knows the agent, but he is not pre-determined and will consider the application with an open mind)

(Councillor Marks declared that he has been in contact with the agent over a Manea village issue, but is not pre-determined and will consider the application with an open mind)

(Councillor Purser registered, in accordance with Paragraph 14 of the Code of Conduct on Planning Matters, that he is a member of March Town Council but takes no part in planning. He further declared that the agent has undertaken work for him, but he is not pre-determined and will consider the application with an open mind)