Agenda item

To consider an application for Details of access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale of 99 dwellings submitted in accordance with condition number 1 of outline permission code 44/2015/1075 (reserved matters application) at Land east of Tirionfa, Rhuddlan, Rhyl (copy attached)

 

 

A reserved matter application had been received for details of access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale of 99 dwellings submitted in accordance with condition number 1 of outline permission code 44/2015/1075, at land east of Tirionfa, Rhuddlan.

 

Local member Councillor Ann Davies proposed that the application be deferred, on the ground that there was insufficient evidence by Welsh Water in regards to a public sewer crossing the site. Councillor Bob Murray seconded the proposed deferment.

 

Officers informed the members the site was an allocated site, with outline planning permission. The application was to assess the reserved matters from the Outline Consent, officers had also not received any objections by Welsh Water, the specialist body on the drainage. Officers recommended not to defer the application.

 

VOTE:

DEFERAL – 5

NOT TO DEFER – 10

ABSTAIN – 0

 

The committee resolved not to defer the application and the debate continued.

 

PUBLIC SPEAKERS –

 

Pauline Evans (AGAINST) – Stated that Rhuddlan’s infrastructure could not deal with a development of this size, especially the drainage.

 

Clarity on the plans was lacking in measurements on how far the proposed dwellings would be from the properties on Pentre Lane.

 

Under UDP and LDP considerable housing and other developments have been constructed in Rhuddlan, which contradicted the needs for the County. Welsh Government had overestimated net migration in the County and a development of this scale was not required.

 

Rhuddlan has a large traffic problem from all the towns in the area, and the additional proposed houses would have a negative effect on the pre-existing traffic problem. School places were at a premium.

 

Stuart Andrew (FOR) – Clarified that the application was a reserved matter application, the site had previously granted planning permission, and the land was sold by the Council for the development of housing.

 

Of the proposed 99 dwellings, 10 dwellings would be affordable; there would be six, two bedroom houses; and four, four bedroom properties. A play area along with a half an acre of landscaped open space area would be made available for use by the public, which would be agreed by the Council. There would be a financial contribution towards local schools of £384,000 and an additional £77,000 for improvement to pre-existing open green spaces. There had been no objections from specialist bodies to the development.

 

General Debate – Councillor Christine Marston commended the site visit which was conducted on the 8^th March, it was clarified that any concerns with the sewerage pipe were rectified following the visit.

 

Councillor Ann Davies (Local Member) spoke against the reserved matters application stating that the local residents have had long running issues against the development. The local school was currently full to capacity and could not take any more children, development of the school couldn’t be carried out due to the school being on CADW land.

 

Cllr Davies also had concerns with the additional traffic that the development would cause, as there was already a large problem with traffic in Rhuddlan. The current sewerage would need upgrading to manage the additional properties in Rhuddlan. The size of the proposed properties was also highlighted as the housing list for waiting residents in Rhuddlan had not demonstrated any need for the 58, 4 bedroom houses.

 

Councillor Arwel Roberts (Local Member) also spoke against the application. The development would have a detrimental effect on the identity of the town, and a negative impact on the Welsh language in the area. The concerns with the traffic were reiterated.

 

Concerns were raised by members due to the proposed 58 no. 4 bed houses, being proposed. The emergency access which was shown was queried on whether it would be useable by vehicles.

 

In response to members questions and comments officers advised that –

 

·         The variation of proposed dwellings included 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom houses and would meet the affordable housing agreement for10% of the properties being affordable housing. Members were informed that the developer would build 10 dwellings rather than 9 which would go above the 10% required by the LDP.

·         The matter with the drainage was for Welsh Water, the body responsible for capacity, connection, management and maintenance of drainage infrastructure. They had not raised any concerns or objections, at either site allocation stage, outline planning permission stage or as part of this detailed reserved matters proposal.

·         There would be a new access to the site, the cycle path would cross the new access. The 30mph sign would also be moved to accommodate the new access to the site.

·         The emergency exit would not be available to vehicles.

 

Proposal – Councillor Ann Davies proposed, seconded by Councillor Andrew Thomas that the application be refused on the grounds that the application would have an adverse impact on the amenities, and the wellbeing of the residents and that the current drainage and sewerage works could not deal with the proposed development.

 

VOTE:

GRANT – 14

REFUSE – 1

ABSTAIN – 0

 

RESOLVED that permission be GRANTED in accordance with officer recommendations as detailed within the report and supplementary papers