Agenda and minutes

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To receive.

An apology had been received from Councillor G. Thomas.

To consider any declarations of interest and dispensations made.

There were no declarations of interest or dispensations reported.

To consider report of the Service Manager Development and Estates.

Consideration was given to the report of the Service Manager Development and Estates.

The Service Manager Development and Estates outlined the report and provided an update to Wauntysswg Farm, Abertysswg, Tredegar which had been confirmed since the report had been published. The Services Manager advised that the Appeal had been approved with full costs awarded. The Inspector had felt that the Planning Committee had not given sufficient reasons for the refusal.

A Ward Member noted his disappointment in this decision and felt that Julie James should be made aware as she advised that it would only be for short length of time, however 10 years was not a short time period.

Further discussions ensued around the Inspectors decision and Members felt that it should be challenged. The Services Manager advised that a full report would be presented to the Planning Committee in due course and all these aspects could be included. There was an option to challenge the decision through the courts and this could be included along with costs.

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and the information therein be noted.

To consider report of the Senior Business Support Officer.

Consideration was given to the report of the Senior Business Support Officer.

A Ward Member asked the reason why 30 Queen Street, Blaina had been refused.

The Planning Officer advised that the application had been refused based on the size of the extension, however this had now been resolved.

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and the information therein be noted.

To consider report of the Team Manager Development Management.

Consideration was given to the report of the Team Manager Development Management.

Application No. C/2013/0170

Former Rhyd y Blew Reservoir Site, Ebbw Vale

Outline application for residential development together with associated access, Car parking and servicing, open space and landscaping and all other ancillary works and activities

The Team Manager, Development Management presented the planning application which had been reported to Planning Committee in 2014. It was noted that Members previously resolved to approve outline planning permission in accordance with officer’s recommendation. This required the applicants to enter into Section 106 Agreement before permission would be granted. The Section 106 had not been completed in the intervening period and the application remained undetermined, therefore the report outlined the reasons for the application remaining undetermined.

The Team Manager further spoke to the report and noted that having been made aware of the findings of the independent assessment undertaken, further discussion had been carried out with a view to clarify whether the applicant would be prepared to offer any contribution either in the form of affordable housing or a financial contribution. In response, the agenda has confirmed his client’s willingness to provide 10% affordable housing. In this context the agent contended that this could be secured via a planning condition which would negate the need for a s106 agreement. It was also suggested that clauses should be included in the agreement to ensure that viability of the scheme was re-evaluated at a future date and this concept was agreed in principle to the introduction of a mechanism that would require a review of the viability assessment.

In conclusion, the officer’s recommendation for approval was noted for the reasons detailed in the report.

At this juncture, the Chair invited Mr. Owain Griffiths was invited to address the Committee.

Mr. Griffiths, Agent informed the Committee that the site formed part of an important housing allocation area in the LDP. It was reported that the Planning Committee had already resolved to grant outline planning permission subject to s106 agreement. The application submitted was to seek approval on the revised s106 agreement to ensure scheme financially viable and deliverable.

A report was presented last year which demonstrated that the scheme was not financially viable. It was added that the planning officer had sought independent advice from an independent valuer and a report was recently issued which agreed with our findings which concluded that the scheme was not financially viable of any financial contributions, however it was informed that the client had agreed to provided 10% affordable housing in line with LDP policy in this area.

There had been interest in the site, however the outline planning permission would need to be progressed.

Mr. Griffiths referred Members to the national housing crisis and advised that there was limited supply of land deliverable for new homes, which was a challenge in Wales. This area was a vacant brownfield site and would be ideal to be used for family housing and would be a major boost for the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To consider.

No areas for Members briefing or training were raised.