PLANNING PANEL AGENDA Schedule of Applications A
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PLANNING PANEL AGENDA Schedule of Applications a) Application 4/17/2214/0O1 – Land to the North of Cross Grove, Cleator Outline application for the erection of 7 dwellings b) Application 4/17/2252/0O1 – Land at Bowthorn Farm, Bowthorn Road, Cleator Moor Outline application with all matters reserved for residential development c) Application 4/17/2256/0F1 – Sellafield Site, Seascale Application for new steam generation plant and demolition of CHP Plant d) Application 4/17/2271/0F1 – Winning Post (Betting Shop), Meadow Road, Mirehouse, Whitehaven Application for change of use to community gymnasium e) Application 4/17/9007/0F2 – Pow Beck Valley and area from Marchon to St Bees coast County Council application for development of an existing surface mine entrance for a new underground metallurgical coal mine and associated surface development including coal storage and processing buildings, access road, security fencing, lighting, outfall to sea, surface water management system, interconnecting underground coal conveyor to a new loading and railway siding to the Cumbria coastal railway line, with adjoining office/welfare facilities, extension of railway under pass, security fencing, lighting, landscaping, construction of a temporary development compound and associated permanent service access off Mirehouse road, Pow Beck valley south of Whitehven Application Number: 4/17/2214/0O1 Application Type: Full – C.B.C. Applicant: Mr R. Mulholland Application Address: LAND TO NORTH OF CROSS GROVE, CLEATOR Proposal: OUTLINE APPLICATION FOR THE ERECTION OF 7 DWELLINGS Parish: Cleator Moor Recommendation Summary: Approve in Outline Introduction This application relates to an area of land comprising 0.5 hectares which lies to the north of a small residential estate called Cross Grove on the northern edge of Cleator. The land bounds the cemetery associated with the adjoining St Marys Church. Its northern boundary is lined with mature trees. This application was deferred at the last meeting to enable Members to visit the site. The site visit took place on 13th September 2017. Proposal This application seeks outline planning permission for the redevelopment of the site to provide 7 dwellings. The application seeks to establish the principle of development and all matters relating to layout, scale, appearance and landscaping are to be reserved for future approval. The application does include full details of the access into the site which is to be achieved off Flosh Meadows using an existing gated entrance. This entrance would also serve the land to the west which has an existing planning permission for 21 self-build residential plots. Although only in outline form the applicant has submitted an indicative layout plan which illustrates how seven dwellings could be accommodated on the site. These are shown in a linear arrangement and would be served from a spine road that runs in a north-south direction on the western edge of the land. Individual driveways would be provided off this spine road to serve each plot. This linear arrangement will ensure that elongated gardens can be provided to ensure a generous separation distance with the adjoining cemetery. The Design and Access Statement that accompanies the application sets out that it is anticipated that the dwelling would comprise a mix of single, one and a half, and two storey properties. The applicant has also provided details to show how additional landscaping could be provided to soften the impact of the development within the local area. Consultee Responses Town Council Members noted the close proximity to the cemetery and asked that planning conditions be placed on any approvals to ensure that future residents take a sensitive approach (with regards to noise and parties) when services and events are occurring in the Church Grotto. Highways Authority Following the submission of additional details I am satisfied that adequate access and visibility arrangements can be achieved to serve this development. On this basis I have no objections. Planning Policy Team As the site lies outside of the Cleator settlement boundary the proposal is considered contrary to policy ST2 (Spatial Development Strategy) of the Copeland Local Plan which states that development outside the defined settlement boundaries should have a proven requirement for such a location, which this proposal does not demonstrate. Where the proposal does not conform with the Copeland Local Plan 2013-2028 the Interim Housing Policy comes into effect. As a small site on the edge of a Local Centre that is directly adjacent to the existing settlement boundary and built form of the village the proposal complies with criteria A and B of the Interim Housing Policy. Cleator is considered to be a sustainable location which should provide access via a range of transport modes which meet criteria C and E of the Interim Housing Policy. Although the site lies within a proposed ‘green gap’ option (outlined within the Site Allocations and Policies Plan Preferred Options January 2015) which seeks to prevent any merging of Cleator and Cleator Moor settlements, the ‘green gap’ proposal currently has very limited status in planning terms. Regardless of this matter, it is considered that development of this site in itself would not result in isolated development or the merging of the two settlements. The extent of the landscaping proposed meets the requirements of Policy DM26 and also helps to lessen the potential of urban sprawl and the merging of Cleator and Cleator Moor settlements. The site lies close to existing services and facilities in Cleator and Cleator Moor and is well screened with existing and proposed vegetation. On balance and by undertaking a site visit, the Strategic Planning team supports the principle of housing development at this site. However, the team are keen to see further detail coming forward at reserved matters stage which would include proposals for housing type and tenure, particularly as the density per hectare is considerably lower than would be expected of this site. Other 2 letters of objection have been received to the application. One local resident raises the follow points:- - Contrary to the Policies within the adopted Local Plan - Greenfield development - Questions the need for housing particularly as permission has been granted for the other residential development within Cleator, namely the former Kangol site - The applicant has a current permission for 21 plots which has not been commenced - Excessive density - Adverse impact on residential amenity - Out of keeping with the existing street pattern and would be detrimental to the character of the local area - Increased traffic at the junction between Flosh Meadows and the A5086 - The cemetery grounds and grotto are a community asset open to everyone who come to enjoy the peace, tranquillity and beauty of the surroundings. The Parish Priest has also set out his concerns. He stresses that the Grotto grounds enjoy both local and national recognition. He is concerned and remains unpersuaded that despite the proposed safeguards outlined in the proposals this further development will have a deleterious effect on the unique attraction and ethos of the Grotto grounds and its many visitors. He also outlines that he remains to be persuaded that the need for the executive self-build properties in this location envisaged in the application exist. If it does then he questions why this cannot be accommodated within the existing approval which was granted two years ago on the adjoining land. Planning Policy National Planning Policy The National Planning Policy Frameworks (NPPF) sets out the planning guidelines at a national level and outlines that the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development. It stresses that in assessing and determining development proposals Local Planning Authorities should apply the presumption in favour of sustainable development. Paragraph 7 of the NPPF establishes the three dimensions to sustainable development, these can be summarised as follows:- Planning for prosperity (an economic role) – contributing to building a strong, responsive and competitive economy, by ensuring that sufficient land of the right type is available in the right places and at the right time to support growth and innovation; and by identifying and coordinating development requirements, including the provision of infrastructure; Planning for people (a social role) – supporting strong, vibrant and healthy communities, by providing the supply of housing required to meet the needs of present and future generations; and by creating a high quality built environment, with accessible local services that reflect the community’s needs and support its health, social and cultural well-being; and Planning for places (an environmental role) – contributing to protecting and enhancing the natural, built and historic environment; and, as part of this, helping to improve biodiversity, use natural resources prudently, minimise waste and pollution, and mitigate and adapt to climate change including moving to a low carbon economy. Paragraph 8 stresses that these roles should not be undertaken in isolation, because they are mutually dependent. Presumption in Favour of Sustainable Development The overarching aim of the NPPF is to proactively deliver sustainable development to support the Government’s economic growth objectives and deliver the country’s development needs. Delivering a wide choice of high quality homes A key objective of the NPPF