Agenda and minutes

The Chair declared an interest in agenda item 5 (New Dawn View - 23/00280/OUT) owing to being employed by the local school. He took no part in any aspect of the item.

Councillors D.Brown, Tracey and Gravells declared a non-prejudicial interest in agenda item 5 (New Dawn View - 23/00280/OUT) owing to being elected members of Gloucestershire County Council.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 6^th June 2023.

RESOLVED - – that the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 6th June 2023 were confirmed and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Please note that any late material in respect of the applications detailed below will be published as a supplement on the Council’s website in the late afternoon of the day before the meeting. Additional late material will be uploaded as a supplement on the Council’s website on the day of the meeting, should further relevant representations be received thereafter.

Late Material was circulated in relation to agenda item 5 - New Dawn View (23/00280/OUT).

Application for determination:

Erection of up to 30No. dwellings with all matters reserved (apart from access).

Owing to having declared a prejudicial interest in the item, the Chair withdrew himself from the Chamber at the start of the item. The Vice-Chair chaired the item.

The Planning Development Manager presented the report detailing an application for the erection of up to 30No. dwellings with all matters reserved (apart from access).

The Chairman of Widden Old Boys RFC spoke in opposition to the application.

He stated that the application should be rejected on the following grounds:

-       He was speaking on behalf of both Widden Old Boys RFC and Old Cryptians RFC in opposition to the application.

-       Granting the application would deprive up to 200 children from sporting opportunities each week due to the reduction of 1.8 hectares of open space.

-       Sport England were inaccurate in their assessment that the site had no special significance to the interests of sport.

-       The area from the North-East of the proposed site to Laburnum Road was used by children each Sunday from September to May  for the purpose of playing Rugby Union.

-       Widden Old Boys had roughly 100 youth members that would be deprived of Rugby Union.

-       Old Cryptians RFC had roughly 200 members that would be deprived of Rugby Union.

-       All age groups below 13 were based at Blackbridge Sports Field. The granting of the application would mean that they would not be able to train or play on the field anymore. This activity dated back to the 1990s and it was not financially viable to play elsewhere.

-       The affected area was also used annually for one (sometimes two) tournament/s.

-       The proposed conversion of the land would prevent 200 children a week and 500-600 children during the annual tournament/s from playing Rugby Union.

-       The catchment area was economically deprived, and the granting of the application would remove free rugby provision for children and young adults. This could not be considered to be in the best interest of the community.

-       Blackbridge Community Land Trust had misrepresented the position of Old Cryptians and Widden Old Boys

 A Planning Consultant representing the applicant spoke in favour of the application.

The planning consultant said that the application should be granted on the following grounds:

-       The application had been 7 years in the making.

-       The application had been subject to rigorous public consultation

-       The City Council had allocated the area for development in the adopted City Plan.

-       The proposed community and sports hub had been approved at the previous Planning Committee meeting.

-       The City Plan stated that the use of a small part of the site for residential development released the wider site to deliver significant net gains.

-       The successful delivery of the Sports Hub was dependent on the application before the Committee being approved.

-       The applicant would transfer the rest of the playing field to the City Council.

-       A not for profit organisation to benefit the community would be set up to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

Application for determination:

Residential development of 180 no. dwellings (Class C3); vehicular, pedestrian and cycle access from Winnycroft Lane; public open space and landscaping; drainage attenuation, acoustic barrier and other associated works (Environmental Impact Assessment development).

This application was deferred at the previous Planning Committee meeting.

The Senior Planner presented the report detailing an application for a Residential development of 180 no. dwellings (Class C3); vehicular, pedestrian and cycle access from Winnycroft Lane; public open space and landscaping; drainage attenuation, acoustic barrier, and other associated works (Environmental Impact Assessment development).

During his presentation, the Senior Planner highlighted the fact that since the publication of the agenda, an updated drainage strategy system had been submitted so the issues outlined in paragraph 18.5 of the report were no longer pertinent and could be disregarded as an objection.

He highlighted the fact the public right of way would be redirected through the site.

He stated that since the deferral of the application at the previous planning meeting, the applicant and officers had had numerous discussions regarding concerns about the application. He said that the applicant and the officers had agreed a revised Heads of Terms. He said that there had been more discussions about a Heritage Management Plan. He said that the City Archaeologist had suggested that Historic England, the applicant, and the Authority could enter into a Heritage Partnership Agreement. The applicant was content to enter discussions regarding this matter. The applicant had also provided a revised Heritage Plan. However, officers had not yet had a sufficient opportunity to examine it in depth. However, from the City Archaeologist’s point of view, a Heritage Partnership Agreement was a potential avenue that could make the application more appropriate, though it may have to be required through a S106 agreement or planning conditions. He also said that the applicant now proposed to provide a greater contribution to public open space provision, though they would reduce the amount they would spend on Education contributions. He concluded by stating that the recommendation was still for refusal for the reasons set out in the report.

A local resident spoke in opposition to the application.

He said that the application should be rejected on the following grounds:

-          He asked the Committee to consider the impact the application would have on the local community. With the granting of other applications in the area, additional pressure had already been placed on local residents. The granting of the application would further add to this.

-          The impact of other local developments (Winnycroft) should be assessed in further detail before judging the impact the application before the Planning Committee would have.

-          There was a great crested newt colony in the scheduled ancient monument and the effect on them may be catastrophic.

An operations director at Bromford spoke in favour of the application.

He stated that the application should be granted on the following grounds:

-          It was unique for an application of the one in front of the committee to have the support of so many community groups and people, including the Member of Parliament for Gloucester (Richard Graham MP)

-          There would be a local lettings agreement that put Matson’s residents first.

-          Bromford were committed to long term plan to protect the scheduled  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

To consider a schedule of applications determined under delegated powers during the month of April 2023.

The Chair noted that the delegated decision list attached to the agenda was not complete and requested that at the next months Committee meeting, a full list of the April and May delegated decisions be provided.

Resolved that: - that the delegated decisions were noted.

Tuesday 1st August 2023 at 6.00pm in Civic Suite, North Warehouse

Tuesday, 2^nd August 2023.