Agenda and minutes

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To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting.

RESOLVED – that the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 9 March 2022 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

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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.

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 TWC/2021/1071.

This was a reserved matters application pursuant to planning application TWC/2018/0701 (200no. dwellings, retention of the existing sports hall building for community uses with associated access, car park, public open space, attenuation areas and associated infrastructure) including details of appearance, landscaping, layout and scale on the site of former Charlton School, Severn Drive, Dothill, Telford, Shropshire.

Councillor K Tomlinson, Ward Member, had requested that the application be determined by the Planning Committee.

The Planning Officer addressed Members that this was a reserved matters application which sought approval for 195 dwellings with consideration being sought on appearance, layout, landscaping and scale.  The principle of development had been granted, together with sustainability and this was not for consideration.  There was a mix of housing types and there was an ecological corridor on the western boundary opposite the Dothill Local Nature Reserve and the football pitches, together with open space and a LEAP and the proposals included two car parks for the Wrekin Gymnastics Club and the football pitches.

Councillor K Tomlinson submitted a statement to be read as she was unable to attend at the meeting.  The statement raised concerns regarding the ecological corridor which had now been reinstated and the design and street layout amended.  She welcomed the reduction in dwellings but was disappointed that some of the houses had insufficient garden space, but noted that these houses could not be extended.   The LEAP had not been resolved and it was hoped that any green space be maintained by the Council.  Her main concern was parking and she felt that 66 spaces was not sufficient and parking issues would be exacerbated, particularly along Harley Close.  She also raised concerns regarding the Whitchurch Road/North Road junction and if there was enough funding from the S106 to alleviate the issues on the hazardous bend.  It was suggested that if Members found it difficult to approve the application that a site visit take place in order to get the development right for local residents.

Councillor L Jinks spoke on behalf of the Town Council who raised concerns regarding the ecology, the LEAP, flow of traffic, the Whitchurch Road/North Road junction, heavy traffic and the additional traffic which this development would bring.  It was asked if a mini roundabout could be installed to alleviate the flow of traffic.  She raised drainage and flood waters and whether the sewers would be adopted by Severn Trent.  Concerns were raised regarding the ecological corridor and the impact on the Dothill Local Nature Reserve and although bat and bird boxes were to be incorporated on the north of the site it was asked if this could be repeated on the southern part of the site.  It was reiterated that if Members were unable to make a decision that the application be deferred and a site visit take place.

Mr P Smith, a member of the public, spoke against the application as he lived close to the proposed development and adjacent to the Local Nature Reserve.  He raised concerns regarding  ...  view the full minutes text for item PC264

This was an application for Installation of a ground mounted solar farm with continued agricultural use (grazing), ancillary infrastructure and security fencing, landscape provision and ecological enhancements (Environmental Statement Submitted)  on the site of Steeraway Farm, Limekiln Lane, Wellington, Telford, Shropshire.

An update report was tabled which set out that additional letters of objection and support had been received and gave an update on issues around the community benefit.  A verbal update was given detailing further letters of objection and support.

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

The Development Management Service Delivery Manager addressed Members in regard to a recent publication in the local press.  The document appeared to be an open letter which referred to the Leader and the Cabinet in relation to climate change.  She confirmed that they had not participated in the consideration of the scheme before Members and that they had not made any statement to any party in this regard and that the Executive do not take part in the regulatory function of the Council.  With regard to the local benefit in relation to the purchase of the Halfway House, CIC contributions were not required or requested and this would be outside of the planning process if the application was approved and therefore this was not a material consideration.  Councillor J Seymour had resigned as director of the CIC and therefore had no existing conflict of interest during the public speaking.

The Planning Officer gave a brief outline of the planning application and took Members through a series of photographs outlining the proposed development.

Councillor A Eade read out a statement on behalf of Councillor J Seymour, Ward Councillor, who was unable to attend the meeting.  It gave clarification in respect of the CIC and that she had not taken part in the meeting which was held on 28 March and had resigned as a Director in order that she could oppose this application.  She spoke against the application as it was within the Wrekin Strategic Landscape and adjacent to the New Works Application site and all arguments from that application remained pertinent to this application.  The strategic landscape sought to protect the Wrekin, the Ercall and the AONB and a solar farm with a 6 metre high deer fence was unacceptable in this setting and it would be seen from many viewing points regardless of the tree and hedge planting and would impact on footpaths and bridleways.  Properties on Limekiln Lane would be affected by a sea of panels and she raised concerns in regard to the reinstatement of the land.  Agricultural land should be retained for the purpose of growing food in the UK and grazed by sheep.  The loss of biodiversity summarised the inadequacy of the application and she asked that the application be refused.

Councillor A McClements, adjoining Ward Member, spoke against the application on behalf of local residents and the wider community in relation to the detrimental effect of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item PC265