Agenda and minutes

Venue: West Stand, AFC Telford United, Watling Street, Wellington, Telford TF1 2TU

Contact: Jayne Clarke / Kieran Robinson  01952 383205 / 382061

Media

Items
No. Item

PC198

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

In respect of planning application TWC/2021/0737, Councillor G Cook advised that he was a member of Wellington Town Council but had not been involved in any discussions on this application.

 

In respect of planning application TWC/2021/0737, Councillor J Greenaway advised that she was a member of Lawley and Overdale Parish Council who were a consultee, but that she had not been involved in any discussions on this application.

PC199

Minutes of the Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 212 KB

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting.

Minutes:

RESOLVED – that the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 22 September be confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

PC200

Deferred/Withdrawn Applications

None

Minutes:

None.

PC201

Site Visits

Minutes:

RESOLVED – that site visits take place at times to be confirmed on the following applications:

 

TWC/2021/0356 and TWC/2021/0358 – the Aga

TWC/2021/0722 and TWC/2021/0724 – the Gower

TWC/2021/0637 – former builders yard Barrack Lane

TWC/2021/0795 and TWC/20210796 – land east of Station Road Newport

PC202

Planning Applications for Determination pdf icon PDF 104 KB

Please note that the order in which applications are heard may be changed at the meeting.  If Members have queries about any of the applications, they are requested to raise them with the relevant Planning Officer prior to the Committee meeting.

Minutes:

Members had received a schedule of planning applications to be determined by the Committee and fully considered each report and the supplementary information tabled at the meeting regarding each planning application. 

PC203

TWC/2021/0737 - Land west of New Works Lane, Telford pdf icon PDF 348 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

This was an application for the installation of a solar farm and associated infrastructure, enlargement of the existing car park and creation of a viewing area on land west of New Works Lane, Telford, Shropshire.

 

Councillor J Seymour, Ward Member, had requested that the application be determined by the Planning Committee.

 

Councillor J Seymour, Ward Member, spoke in favour of the officer’s recommendation to refuse the application and reiterated the principle of the objections which were the inappropriate location with the Wrekin and Ercall being a strategic landscape, panels would be a blight on the scenery and could be viewed from the Wrekin and would not be hidden during the winter months, proposed rights of way were not enhancements as these currently existed and had already been restored, the generator adjacent to a picnic area and the flood risk.

 

Councillor A McClements, adjoining Ward Member, spoke in favour of the officer’s recommendation to refuse the application and although this was in the adjacent ward boundary the solar farm would impact on the lives of residents who use and walk that area, particularly through Steeraway and the New Works and which led to flora and fauna and was used for recreation purposes by walkers, runners, cyclists and horse riders.  Since the covid 19 restrictions this glorious green space had been enjoyed for both physical and mental health and wellbeing and was part of the Telford T50 route.  The application was not in keeping with the rural open fields, farming and woodland as specified in the NPPF and would impact the visual topography as the size of the panels and the site would not blend or be hidden and mitigation would take some 10 years to implement.  The site was close to a Local Nature Reserve (LNR) and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and would be a detriment to the strategic landscape around the Shropshire Hills and the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

 

Mr J Jenkinson, Applicants Agent spoke in favour of the application and against the officer’s recommendation to refuse the application.  Solar farms made good use of agricultural land and were safe and reliable and promoted high levels of biodiversity and the hedgerow would improve the poor headland and improve and enrich the habitat.  The objections with regard to the RSPB and the effect on the Barn Owls were inconsistent with evidence and solar farm construction could take place without damage to nature.  There would be an extended public car park and an expansion to the public rights of way network, together with the changes to the hedgerow which would be pleasant to walk along and these improvements would bring tourists to the area. The land had previously been disturbed and had consequently changed.  Short Wood had been used by quad bikes and low open structures would be used on the expanded car park together with screen planting to prevent this use. A modest amount of noise would be generated and this would be mitigated by the  ...  view the full minutes text for item PC203

PC204

TWC/2021/0858 - Land adj 3 Davenport Drive, Admaston, Telford, Shropshire pdf icon PDF 150 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

This application was for the erection of 1no. dwelling on land adjacent to Davenport Drive, Admaston, Telford, Shropshire.

 

The Development Management Service Delivery Manager had requested that this application be determined by the Planning Committee due to the nature of the representations from the members of the public.

 

An additional letter of representation have been received which gave details regarding vehicular access, loss of privacy and open space which had previously been addressed in the report.

 

It was asked that delegated authority be given to the Development Management Service Delivery Manager to approve the application subject to conditions and informatives if members were minded to grant the application.

 

Mr C Bray, member of the public, spoke against the application and raised concerns regarding Policy CS15 urban design and the impact on the local identity and environment, loss of green network buffer and the lock wildlife corridor and that it did not meet the six functions with regard to ecological habitats, separation from the urban boundary, loss of connection to the Silkin Way, poor mitigation by adding bat and hedgehog boxes.  The Ecological statement was carried out by a third party and did not demonstrate the true picture of the green network land.  He raised further concerns regarding Policy UD2 as the car park being created did not enhance the appearance of the site and was extremely close to the Silkin Way and would cause a nuisance.  There was no clear benefit as the development was not affordable housing and highway danger would increase.

 

Mr K Davies, applicant, spoke in favour of the development and explained that he had looked carefully at comments raised and had addressed the feedback, amended the application and resubmitted this.  The design and build embraced the character of the surrounding buildings and would contribute to the Council’s housing targets.  Access to the site was acceptable with a car park sufficient for three vehicles.  The house would have a low carbon footprint and in line with the green agenda with no use of fossil fuels, south facing solar panels to rear of property, air source heat pumps and electric charging vehicle points and enhancements to the green network.  An additional hedge would be planted together with wild flowers/native species borders, bat and bird boxes, bee bricks and hedgehog housing.  He asked that Members considered the sustainability and ecological benefits to the green network.

 

The Planning Officer confirmed that Policy NE6 had been considered in relation to the impact on the green network with any harm being caused by the development being outweighed by the gains with the planting of native hedgerow, bat and bird boxes, solar panels, aluminium windows, air heat pumps and solar panels.  The Ecology Officer had considered the land to be low value in regard to biodiversity.  The siting of the dwelling would not have an impact on the Silkin Way, it was well designed with adequate parking and 17.8 dwellings per hectare.  It was considered there was no loss of light or privacy  ...  view the full minutes text for item PC204