Agenda item

To determine the application.

David Grant presented the report to members.

Members received a presentation, in accordance with the public participation procedure, from Matthew Hall, the agent. Mr Hall stated his comments are the same as for application F/YR25/0726/PIP, however, on the indicative layout that he submitted the 2 houses are, in his opinion, in Flood Zone 1, with other parts of the site being in Flood Zones 2 and 3. He referred to the previous application where he said that the houses would be in Flood Zone 1 but for clarification did not say the whole site was in Flood Zone 1.

Members asked questions of Mr Hall as follows:

·       Councillor Marks referred to officers saying that the road goes down Dykemoor Road and asked how far the entrance will be down what officers say is a fairly rough road? Mr Hall responded that the access is shown on the indicative plan, the frontage of the site has a large group of trees which is not in the site’s ownership, which is why an access has not be shown out onto Primrose Hill and he estimated that the distance from Primrose Hill to the site’s entrance is about 20 metres.

·       Councillor Marks stated that a bit further down there is Henry Shepherd’s Transport yard and asked how much further down is the entrance to this site from the proposal? Mr Hall responded approximately 50-75 metres but he has not measured it and is only going from what he can see on the OS plan.

·       Councillor Connor made the point that Dykemoor Road is mostly a concrete slab road that has been tarmacked over and he does have lots of issues over that road breaking up. He added that it was undertaken by workers for the war effort to make it easier for produce to be transported.

Members asked questions of officers as follows:

·       Councillor Connor asked if the houses will be in Flood Zone 1? David Grant responded that the indicative plan shows no part of the housing within Flood Zone 1, however, when officers assess through the three criteria, location, use and quantum, they are assessing it along the entirety of the site within the red line boundary and, therefore, with the site partially being in Flood Zones 2 and 3 a sequential test is required and no such test has been submitted and, therefore, when the location is looked at from a flood risk point of view officers deem this site is unsuitable.

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

·       Councillor Benney referred to the Government flood maps, which shows a 1 in a 1,000 chance of where the houses being sited flooding. David Grant responded that this is looking at surface water flooding and not Flood Zones 2 or 3, with the rear of site being within Flood Zones 2 and 3. Councillor Benney acknowledged this, but where the houses are going to be built is in Flood Zone 1. David Grant responded that the plan is indicative only, therefore, no weight can be given to the proposed location of the houses.

·       Councillor Marks expressed the opinion that this site is better than the one before last as vehicles can turn off the busy road, which is a benefit to this site. He acknowledged that there is an indicative site plan and he is sure that drainage will be resolved should this be given permission, it abuts up to the horseshoe building that is already there and committee has now given permission for 2 further properties along here. Councillor Marks feels there are lots of buildings around the site, with further up the road there being a transport yard and he is happy that the site can be built on.

·       David Rowen stated that he reiterates his comments on the previous two applications.

Proposed by Councillor Marks, seconded by Councillor Mrs French and agreed that the application be GRANTED against officer’s recommendation.

Members did not support the officer’s recommendation of refusal of planning permission as they feel that the proposed is not eroding the character of the open countryside, there are other properties in the vicinity, some people want to live in an elsewhere location and the indicative layout plan indicates that the properties can all be located in Flood Zone 1.

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

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

(Councillor Marks declared that he knows the applicant’s sister and has undertaken personal work for her, but he is not pre-determined and will consider the application with an open mind)

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

(Councillor Purser declared that the agent has undertaken work for him, but he is not pre-determined and will consider the application with an open mind)