Methwold Parish Council Planning Committee meeting Thursday 10 th 6.30pm Fenton Room St George s Hall Methwold. Present: Mr J Marriage, Mr P Ashman, Mrs S Stones, Mr P Crawley, Mr D Thomas, Mrs S Ramsay Mrs Charlesworth-Smith, Mr R Hood, Mrs B Horton, Mrs R Gibson Councillors M Storey, M Peake and A Lawrence 47 Members of the public Clerk 1. Apologies for absence: Received from Mrs K Plumridge, Mrs T Thomas, Mr B Welland Due to the number of planning applications and the level of development all Parish Council members were invited to attend the Planning Committee meeting. The meeting had also been published on the Parish Council s website and Face book pages so members of the public could attend if they wish. The Chairman welcomed all to the meeting and advised the meeting was a council planning meeting and not a public meeting and that the Planning Committee were only allowed to discuss and comment on the planning applications which are currently on the Borough Council of Kings Lynn & West Norfolk planning portal. He also noted that Methwold Parish Council is a consultee which represent the Community. The Chairman strongly recommended that the public can make their thoughts known through the BCKLWN planning portal http://online.west-norfolk.gov.uk/online-applications/ or this website can be accessed via the Methwold Parish Council webpage. 2. Declarations of interest-mr Storey, has discussed with the legal department and as this is not a decision making meeting he is seen as a member of the public. 3. To consider the following planning applications: 15/01649/LB Amendments made to listed building application: Conversion of three redundant barns to residential dwellings including renovation, alteration and ancillary works at Hall Farm, Hall Farm Drive, Methwold Thetford. This application was considered at the last planning meeting, there have been some amendments made to the plans to include changes to the windows and the driveway changing the layout of the car parking. The Planning Committee have already made recommendation to BCKLWN. Chairman closed the meeting to take any comments from council members - No comments Councillors are still in favour of this application. 15/01683/FM Construction of 30 dwellings and associated infrastructure on vacant field Land at Crown Street Hall Farm Drive Methwold Norfolk IP26 4PN Closing date for comments 28 th Chairman opened the meeting to take any comments from the public. There was a great deal of concern from the public regarding the application, in particular concerns regarding the lack of infrastructure to support the proposed development: Additional traffic-the village does not have the road structure to accommodate the additional 70+ cars this development will bring. Draft Page 1 of 5
There is already a problem in Crown Street with cars being parked along the street reducing the road to single carriageway. A huge amount of fast traffic already uses Crown Street and the entrance/exit from the development onto Crown Street is on a bend and next to the Recreation Ground Car Park. Potential for flooding Two ancient rights of way are on the proposed site, concern for the footpath which currently runs across the site and would be lost under the development. This site is in a Conservation Area, this would be spoilt if a development were allowed to proceed. Schools in Methwold would the schools be able to manage an influx of children that these developments would bring to the village? Does this take into account that a lot of the outlying villages are in the catchment area for the Academy and that many children travel into Methwold to attend. Would there be places in the local schools for children who are already living in Methwold but not yet at school? It is already difficult to get a Doctor s appointment, would they be able to accommodate the increase in population that this development would bring? Does the development have its own sewerage treatment plant-yes. If this development is approved and built who will be able to afford them, are they really going to be affordable housing for local people? The village does not have any shops meaning that traffic will be increased with people using cars to go to the shops or delivery vans making deliveries. The Recreation Ground does not have a secure fence alongside the potential development; this is currently being looked at by the Parish Council. The bus service is virtually non existent. In response to queries The Chairman explained that using the Norfolk County Council Planning Standards Education Provision 2012 to calculate the additional number of pupils this development is expected to bring to the village and this equates to per 100 dwellings, 26.1 primary school children and 17.3 High School children. The Chairman referred to KLWNBC Core Strategy CS09 which gives details of the Borough s policy on Affordable Housing The Chairman explained that Highways will be contacted by BCKLWN as part of the planning process. Mr Storey explained that it was not in the application but he was in discussions with his Architect to donate a parcel of land for a Doctor s Surgery on the development. It was noted that this would bring in additional traffic to the village as others use the facility. There was also support for the application, this is exactly the sort of development Methwold needs and can only be of benefit. LDF Plan is not applicable at present. Cllr Lawrence Cabinet member and Housing Portfolio Holder explained that the Local Development Framework has been worked on for the past 6 years by the Borough Planning Department and has been put together after consultations with land owners, farmers, parish councils, and the public. Cllr Peak stated that the LDF Plan does not have enough development land, the Borough Council need land to build more houses and the number of houses needs to increase, there have been public meetings and nothing has been hidden. Earlier this year Freebridge were in St George s Hall for the day to try and find out the social housing needs, he urged people to go on the website to look at the proposal. A member of the public asked what happens if you don t have access to the internet; residents are unaware of the proposals for land in and around the Parish, why didn t residents receive the proposals in writing the same way as they receive their council tax bills? How could these people make their views heard? Draft Page 2 of 5
The Site Allocation and Development management Policies Pre-Submission Document shows 4 sites in Methwold which are clearly identified as potential areas for development. Cllr Peake stated that Methwold and Northwold Parishes had been grouped together to form a Key Service Area and therefore designated to be built on. There were no available sites in Northwold and hence the council had chosen four sites for development in Methwold Development was applied for some time ago on Storeys Meadow but this application was turned down. The Chairman closed the meeting to enable members of the Parish Council s Planning Committeee to discuss the application for the development of 30 Houses on Storey s Meadow Methwold A fence will need required alongside the Recreation Ground; will Developers agree to install this fence? Allocation of land for Doctor s Surgery-this is not under the Planning Departments control and under Section 106 agreement the Developers pay money to NCC for a number of itemised services however there is no guarantee that any of this money would come to Methwold. Where would the Doctors come from to set up a new Surgery? Concern regarding the amount of properties and just how many would be affordable as plans look like mainly 3 and 4 bedroomed houses with en-suites, not starter homes for local people. There would be 8 Affordable houses on the development of these some would be rental and some shared ownership. The Planning Department was asked by the Clerk if a representative could attend the Parish Council meeting and although they are willing to discuss the influx of planning applications with the Parish Council they are not able to attend the meeting. Mr Ashman proposed to object the application on the grounds that Methwold does not have the facilities and infrastructure in the area to support and maintain this amount of development. Mrs Horton seconded 8 councillors voted to support the objection 2 councillors abstained Motion passed to object to application on the grounds that Methwold does not have the facilities and infrastructure in the area to support and maintain this amount of development. 15/01909/O Outline planning application for site for construction of three dwellings at North of 49 Main Road Brookville, Thetford Norfolk. Chairman opened the meeting to take any comments from the public On the documents this states that the development is on agricultural land, on the planning application it has horticultural land? If agricultural land; can this be built on? The Chairman explained this may be part of the old Brookville Colony Site. A member of the public asked when they could discuss the 6 houses in Scott s Lane. The Chairman explained that this meeting was to discuss and comment on the planning applications which are currently on the Borough Council of Kings Lynn & West Norfolk planning portal. The development in Scott s Lane has already been discussed and comments made by Methwold Parish Council Planning Committee at a previous meeting. The closing date for comments on the development at Scott s lane was 30 th November. The lady objected to the notice on the Facebook site as being misleading which listed this development for discussion at this meeting. The Vice Chair explained that the recent list of applications was put on that particular document as a reference to all the planning which has been received recently. Facebook was used to bring attention to the public about the level of proposed development in Brookville, Methwold and Methwold Hythe. The actual Agenda for Draft Page 3 of 5
this evenings meeting has the correct information and was posted on the three Parish Notice boards on 4 th December. It was also noted that the primary school has their Christmas play on this evening otherwise many more people would have liked to have attended the meeting, The Chairman explained that it is difficult to set a date where everyone can attend and also to comply with BCKLWN timescales for comments, this evening was decided because a full Parish Council meeting will follow the Planning Meeting. There is another rumour of 30 houses being developed in Brookville but there is no evidence at present that plans are being submitted. The Chairman opened the Parish Council s Planning meeting for members to discuss the application for Outline Planning Application for site for construction of three dwellings at North of 49 Main Road Brookville. Comments were as follows: There is already concern about cars speeding through Brookville; an increase in houses will bring more cars which will turn out onto the Main Road. If approved this would be a good reason for the Parish Council to go back to Highways to ask for a speed reduction. The barn on the opposite side of Brook Lane have put in for change of use, a member of the public stated that this has nothing to do with the planning application. On the plans each of the houses takes a plot of land which may be developed in the future, could a covenant be put on each of the houses to stop this happening in the future? Mr Ashman proposed to support the application but asked if Highways could consider a reduction in the speed limit through Brookville? Mr Crawley seconded 7 councillors voted to support the application 3 Councillors voted against Motion passed to accept the application but to ask Highways to consider a reduction to the speed limit. 15/01957/OM Outline application for construction of 24 dwellings and associated infrastructure on vacant field Site off Hythe Road Hythe Road Methwold Norfolk Chairman opened the meeting to take any comments from the public: Discussions regarding increased traffic this development would bring with additional vehicles 24 houses will bring to the village, expected to be 48 cars. The entrance to Herbert Drive already has a problem with traffic, extra housing will add to this. Can Highways look at the speed limit through the village? Increased development will mean additional children using the footpaths when walking to and from school. Need the infrastructure and all services to be in place before there is any more development in the village. How will this development affect the flooding issues which already occur when water runs off Hythe Road and collects at Petch Corner in Hythe Road after rainfall? For 50 years the village has flooded after heavy rain, these developments make it worse. Are these houses going to be privately owned? Will there be Affordable housing? Where is the sewerage going? We don t have mains sewerage. The chairman responded to a number of the queries: Highways have done a temporary improvement but are looking to improve the drainage near Petch Corner. As there are more than 5 houses they are subject to affordable housing, therefore can only assume that affordable housing will be in line with the Borough s Core Strategy CS09. It was explained that the development would have its own treatment plant. Draft Page 4 of 5
The Chairman opened the Parish Council s Planning meeting for members to discuss the application for the construction of 24 houses and associated infrastructure on vacant site off Hythe Road Methwold. Mr Ashman proposed to object the application on the grounds that Methwold does not have the facilities and infrastructure in the area to support and maintain this amount of development. Mrs Ramsay seconded 9 councillors voted to support the objection 1 councillor abstained Motion passed to object to the application on the grounds that Methwold does not have the facilities and infrastructure in the area to support and maintain this amount of development. Draft Page 5 of 5