Agenda item

To consider and application for the demolition of dwelling and erection of 31 new affordable dwellings including new vehicular access, internal access road and associated works (copy attached).

 

An application was submitted for the demolition of dwelling and erection of 31 new affordable dwellings including new vehicular access, internal access road and associated works.

 

Public Speaker – Saul Page (against) living on the street for 7 years there were many concerns about the application that had been submitted for the green land neighbouring the existing residential area. 

 

Objections against the application were as follows –

·       The loss of green land.

·       There was the potential for house prices to drop as the street would no longer be a cul-de-sac.

·       Damage to vehicles was a concern with the increase in traffic due to the narrow street.

·       Concerns regarding safety of children playing outside as the street would become a through road to the new development with the increase of construction vehicles during the works.

·       Children being forced to play inside, limiting outdoor access.

To conclude, the Committee were implored to visit the site to see how the influx of traffic would impact the narrow street before a decision on the development was made.

 

Public Speaker – Endaf Roberts (for) there was an affordable housing need in Denbighshire and the current un-met demand was leading to residents living in hotels.

 

This application would contribute to providing affordable homes in Denbighshire. The site was in a highly sustainable area within Bodelwyddan with public transport connections. The site was currently in private ownership with no public access. The dwellings in the proposal ranged from 1-bedroom properties to larger family homes which would directly address the need.

 

The applicant had provided additional information on agricultural land matters, highways and ecological requirements.

 

It was noted that highways issues had been highlighted as a concern and members were reminded that a similar marketing scheme on the same site where car ownership would be expected to be far higher than this proposal had not been refused on highways grounds.   

 

The site was in a sustainable location and delivered a type and mix of housing that was desperately needed in the area.

 

It was kindly requested that planning permission be granted for the application to allow a part of the housing crisis in the area to be addressed.

 

General debate –

 

Local member, Councillor Raj Metri stated that he understood the concerns of residents however, the population was growing and the need for housing was increasing.

 

The Chair requested information from officers on the application being outside of the Local Development Plan (LDP) and why the application was accepted to come to Planning Committee and on the highway concerns that had been raised.

 

The Principal Planning Officer explained that the site was not in the LDP and was outside the development boundary. Within the adopted LDP there was an exceptions policy (policy BSC8) which allowed for dwellings outside of the LDP boundary if the application highlighted the need for affordable housing. 55% of households in the Bodelwyddan area could not afford to rent or buy a property and for these reasons officers recommended that the application was granted.

 

The Senior Engineer for Development Control, Traffic, Parking and Road Safety informed the Committee that the proposal was for 31 residential units and the site would be accessed directly from Bryn Morfa cul-de-sac which currently served approximately 40 residential properties. Bryn Morfa Street was approximately 6m wide with footpaths on both sides meeting Ronalds Way at a priority-controlled junction. A transport statement had been provided within the application. The peek am and pm inflows to the development had been calculated as 4 and 15 vehicles respectively and peek am and pm outflows as being 15 and 7 respectively. A construction Traffic Management Plan would be in place prior to construction commencing. It was felt that the nature and scale of the proposed development was unlikely to produce a detrimental volume of traffic.

 

Councillor Jon Harland stated that he understood that there was a need for housing, but this site was not suitable. Grassland and shrubs would be destroyed and there was already a carbon shortage.

 

Proposal - Councillor Jon Harland proposed that the application be refused SECONDED by Councillor Arwel Roberts.

 

Vote –

For- 4

Against – 12

Abstain – 0

 

Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts recognised the housing shortage within the area and stated that officers had undertaken work to protect the environmental element of the application.

 

The Development Manager informed the Committee that the Planning Team had liaised with County Ecologist with regards to protecting different levels of Biodiversity. On balance the need for additional housing outweighed some of the considerations regarding green spaces and it was for the Committee to make an informed decision.

 

Proposal –

Councillor Huw Hilditch- Roberts proposed that the application be granted in accordance with officer recommendation, SECONDED by Councillor Alan James.

 

Vote –

For- 12

Against – 4

Abstain – 0

 

RESOLVED: that the application be GRANTED in accordance with officer recommendation.