Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed all parties to the Meeting.

None received

To note any interests relevant to the consideration of items on the agenda.

Please note that any declarations of interest made at the meeting which are not on the register of interests should be notified to the Monitoring Officer for inclusion.

Councillor Clive Stevens has published a book on local democracy but this does not preclude his role on this committee.

Councillor Mark Wright was Executive Member for Housing in 2009/10 where previous applications were made on this site. However the new plans are substantially different.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting as a correct record.

RESOLVED: the minutes of the previous meeting of 28 October2020 are agreed as a correct record.

To note appeals lodged, imminent public inquiries and appeals awaiting decision.

The Head of Development Management introduced the report and summarised it for everyone.

To note recent enforcement notices.

The Head of Development Management introduced the report and summarised it for everyone.

Up to 30 minutes is allowed for this item.

Any member of the public or Councillor may participate in Public Forum. The detailed arrangements for so doing are set out in the Public Information Sheet at the back of this agenda. Public Forum items should be emailed to democratic.services@bristol.gov.uk and please note that the following deadlineswill apply in relation to this meeting:-

Register to Speak by Noon Monday 23 November: The meeting will be held via Zoom meeting app. For this meeting we ask that you let us know by Monday whether you intend to speak to your statement or question, which you must submit as outlined below. This will greatly assist us manage the flow of the meeting.

Questions - Written questions must be received 3 clear working days prior to the meeting. For this meeting, this means that your question(s) must be received in this office at the latest by 5 pm on Thursday 19 November.

Petitions and Statements - Petitions and statements must be received on the working day prior to the meeting. For this meeting this means that your submission must be received in this office at the latest by 12.00 noon on Tuesday

24 November.

Please note, your time allocated to speak may have to be strictly limited if there are a lot of submissions. This may be as short as one minute.

Members of the Committee received Public Forum Statements in advance of the meeting.

The Statements were heard before the application they related to and were taken fully into consideration by the Committee prior to reaching a decision.

The Committee considered the following Planning Applications:

The Head of Development Management and his representative gave a presentation and summarised the report for this item.

a)     Officers explained the concept of Biodiversity Net Gain, which is an emergent area of policy that is likely to apply in the near future for planning applications (but is not in force for the application today). This relates to the declaration of ecological emergency and retaining biodiversity within the city. It is expressed as a percentage and we should receive more information about how this is measure when it is officially adopted. This particular development is ahead of what the formal legislation is likely to require. Although there is a loss of green space, the bio diversity net gain is 5%.

b)     The application covers an area of land 6.2 hectares, of which 4 hectares has been allocated for building since 2007. Currently open grassland, bushes trees and cycle path. There is a nearby railway line and pylons. The area is surrounded by housing.

c)      185 units are proposed. The development includes open space and play spaces. Standard design 2 story houses with 3 story blocks in the centre. Mixed development, with higher densities in built up areas. The development offers 50% affordable homes, 30% of which have been secured via planning regulations.

d)     There was originally and objection from the ecology officer as the road encroached on the Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI). This is now no longer the case. There is a biodiversity gain of 5%, originally this was -3% as it included no habitat generation. The proposed allotments negatively impacted on this score. Provision of allotments was required via the local plan. They were originally proposed onsite, but this is not possible due to a large number of underground cables. BCC is seeking an off-site contribution of £164k. The allotment team are looking at Dover Court as a possible site.

e)     The application meets tree replacement standards. 271 trees are being removed, including 7 class B trees. 400 new trees are being planted on site, 55 new trees off site.

f)      There are no objections from highways. There will need to be some highway works, including signal junctions, bus stops, travel plan and enforcement areas.

g)     A significant amendment sheet for this application has been published recently.

Questions for clarification:

h)     Some concerns about proximity to electricity pylons have been raised in the public forum. Planning guidance from the National Grid acknowledges that there is a debate, but the balance of scientific consensus is they do not present a health risk. There is no formally prescribed minimum build distance from pylons. These pylons are at a 50m distance to the proposed new homes.

i)       The properties with rear access lanes are not secured with gates, which could present security issues. Security gates could be added as a condition.

j)       Modular homes are not temporary homes. They improve the delivery pipeline by building off-site and assembling on-site. There are a number of developments in the city doing similar.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 65.

The Date of the next meeting is Wednesday 13^th January 2021

The date of the next meeting is Wednesday 13 January 2021.