Agenda and draft minutes

To receive and note apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received and noted for Cllrs Ayre, Moroney and Whitcroft.

At this point in the meeting, Members and co-opted members are asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary interest, or other registerable interest, they might have in respect of business on this agenda, if they have not already done so in advance on the Register of Interests. The disclosure must include the nature of the interest.

An interest must also be disclosed in the meeting when it becomes apparent to the member during the meeting.

[Please see attached sheet for further guidance for Members].

Members were asked to declare at this point in the meeting any disclosable pecuniary interest or other registerable interest they might have in respect of business on the agenda, if they had not already done so in advance on the Register of Interests. There were none.

To approve and sign the minutes of the Planning Committee A meetings held on 16 January 2025, 5 February 2025 and 20 March 2025.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the meetings held on 16 January, 5 February and 20 March 2025 be approved as a correct record.

At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered to speak can do so. Members of the public may speak on agenda items or on matters within the remit of the committee.

Please note that our registration deadlines have changed to 2 working days before the meeting, in order to facilitate the management of public participation at meetings.  The deadline for registering at this meeting is 5:00pm on Tuesday 6 May 2025.

To register to speak please visit www.york.gov.uk/AttendCouncilMeetings to fill in an online registration form.  If you have any questions about the registration form or the meeting, please contact Democratic Services.  Contact details can be found at the foot of this agenda.

Webcasting of Public Meetings

Please note that, subject to available resources, this meeting will be webcast, including any registered public speakers who have given their permission. The meeting can be viewed live and on demand at www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme on general matters within the remit of the Planning Committee A.

This item invites Members to determine the following planning application:

Members considered a schedule of reports of the Head of Planning and Development, relating to the following planning applications, outlining the proposals and relevant policy considerations and setting out the views of consultees and officers.

Outline application for up to 380 dwellings, community facilities/childcare provision, retail unit and associated works with access from Stockton Lane [Heworth Without Ward]

Members considered a Major Outline Application from Taylor Wimpey Ltd for up to 380 dwellings, community facilities/childcare provision, retail unit and associated works with access from Stockton Lane at Land to the South of Sugar Hill Farm Stockton Lane York.

The Head of Planning and Development gave a presentation on the application. A committee update was given by the Principal Planning Officer, who reported that a submission had been received from Cllr Warters, and there were updates to the scheme regarding drainage and archaeology. A request was also made to amend the description of development to include Gypsy and Traveller provision. He detailed why reason 7 was to be removed from the reasons for refusal.

Public Speakers

Cllr Ayre, Heworth Without Ward Cllr, spoke in objection to the application. He explained that the site was strategically important for housing and the applicant had made no attempt to strategically masterplan the site. He noted his concerns regarding education with the two schools put forward not suitable due to distance meaning primary school provision was needed on the site. He noted his concern regarding lack of consultation by the applicant. He added that 800 homes with infrastructure and community facilities were needed on the site.

Jennie Hanbidge, Agent for the Applicant, spoke in support of the application. She was joined by Ben Stevenson (Taylor Wimpey) to answer questions. She explained that Taylor Wimpey had a contractual interest in the in the northern half of ST7. She explained that each have of the site had its own vehicular access and the new community of two halves would be linked by walking, cycling and public transport but not by car. She explained that ST7 was allocated as a whole for 845 dwellings and that the progress for the southern half was lagging behind the north. She noted that hey had no control over times for the southern half and added that the owners of the southern part of ST7 had agreed the masterplan. She explained that their technical consultants had been in discussion with the council on matters of highways, drainage and heritage and she requested a two month extension of time to continue dialogue. She added that the application had been amended to include Gypsy and Traveller provision.

The Chair addressed the points raised by the agent for the applicant. He noted that there was a significant number of points where information was required from the applicant and hadn’t been forthcoming. He explained that the Local Plan policy SS9 made it clear that to masterplan for that site the applicant needed to undertake an extensive part of the research to demonstrate how the masterplan of the site works with the needs of the community. He added that there was no evidence that the design was based on any sort of information gathering to inform the design. He noted that the report showed how a significant number of policies were not met. He asked the agent for the applicant and applicant to demonstrate  ...  view the full minutes text for item 164.