Agenda item

APPLICATION NUMBER: PA/341416/18

APPLICANT: Grasscroft Homes and Property Limited, Annice Dransfield Douglas & Matthew Drans

PROPOSAL:  Erection of 77 dwellings, open space and associated works and infrastructure - amendments to the scheme include a revised layout and reduction in the number of units proposed from 80 to 77.

LOCATION:  Land to the east of Hebron Street and Brownlow Avenue, Royton, Oldham

It was MOVED by Councillor Bashforth and SECONDED by Councillor Murphy that the application be REFUSED (against Officer recommendations).

On being put to the vote 9 VOTES were cast IN FAVOUR OF REFUSAL and 2 VOTES were cast AGAINST with 0 ABSTENTIONS.

DECISION: That the application be REFUSED contrary to officer’s recommendation for the following reason:

1.    The proposed development makes inadequate provision for accessing and exiting the site and Hebron Street. As such, the proposal will lead to congestion and obstruction on Hebron Street and beyond, to the detriment of resident’s amenity, the free flow of traffic along the street and area and pedestrian safety. As such, the proposal is unsustainable development and contrary to:

·         Policy 9 of Oldham's LDF Joint DPD which seeks to protect the amenity of existing and future residents; and,

·         Policy 4 of Oldham’s Joint DPD which seeks to ensure highways safety by requiring appropriate highways safety measures and schemes are implemented as part of development proposals.

2.    The proposal would result in the loss of OPOL land and subsequently would result in a loss of open landscape that would harm to the visual amenity of the area, as well as having a transformative effect on its openness and local distinctiveness. This harm significantly and demonstrably outweighs the benefits of the scheme when weighed against the Local Plan and NPPF policies taken as a whole. As such, the proposal is contrary to:

·         Policy 6 - Green Infrastructure; and,

·         Policy 22 – Protecting Open Land  

of the Oldham Local Development Framework, Development Plan Document (November 2011) that seek to protect valued OPOL land.

3.         The proposed development would result in the introduction of residential accommodation of poor design, in terms of unacceptable room sizes, that fails to take the opportunity available for improving the quality of accommodation in Oldham and create places that provide an acceptable degree of amenity for future residents. The proposal would therefore be contrary to Policy 9 of the Oldham Local Development Framework Joint Core Strategy and Development Management Policies DPD and the objectives of the National Planning Policy Framework to secure a good standard of amenity for future occupants of land and buildings.   

4.         The nature of the noise, activity and disturbance created by the adjacent employment site would be detrimental to the residential amenity of the occupiers of the proposed residential properties. As such, the proposal would therefore be contrary to Policy 9 of Oldham's LDF Joint DPD which seeks to protect the amenity of future residents from noise, increased activity and disturbance.

NOTES:

1.         That an Objector, the Applicant and a Ward Councillor attended the meeting and addressed the Committee on this application.

2.         In reaching its decision, the Committee took into consideration the information as set out in the Late List attached at Item 12.