Agenda item

Erection of 4no. dwellinghouses to rear of 102 Tadcaster Road with associated access and landscaping works. [Dringhouses and Woodthorpe Ward]

Members considered a full application by Bootham Developments (York) Ltd for the erection of 4no. dwellinghouses to rear of 102 Tadcaster Road with associated access and landscaping works. 

The Development Manager gave a presentation on the plans and provided an update, this included two additional conditions (21 and 22) which covered the landscape proposals for the boundary of the site to 104 and 108A Tadcaster Road and ensured that the planting will be covered for the lifetime of the development respectively.  Also included was an amendment to the wording of condition 9 to include ‘and hedgerow’ following ‘existing trees’ and ‘tree works’.

Responding to questions from Members on the plans, Officers reported that EV charging points were a requirement of building regulations and therefore not covered by planning.  The applicant would choose an appropriate building control body to evidence adherence to building regulations.  The boundaries between the properties were not specified in the plans, part of the development would have room for either a hedge or fence.

Public Speakers

Cllr Widdowson, Ward Cllr for Dringhouses and Woodthorpe Ward, spoke on behalf of local residents.  She welcomed the reduction in the number of dwellings for the proposed development and raised a number of concerns including hedge protection, road safety, garden size for family homes and the parking of construction and landscaping vehicles.

In response to questions, she stated that, in her opinion, the amendment to condition 9 did not go far enough.

Joe Flanagan, the agent for the applicant, spoke in support of the application.  He noted the changes that had been made to plans and the applicant’s agreement to the amendment of condition 9.

In response to questions from Members, it was confirmed that all properties would have photovoltaic panels and heat pumps.

Officers responded to further questions from Members, and reported that:

·       Conditions 5, 6 and 7 were standard conditions and the planning authority was responsible for ensuring that they were enacted to the required standard.

·       The plan for the hedge, covered in the amended condition 9, would require approval from officers to ensure that the hedge was protected as far as reasonably possible.

·       The target emission rates related to the draft local plan requirements; these were based on the 2013 building regulations.

·       In relation to conditions 14 and 15, provision for hedgehog holes could be included.  Swift bricks had not been recommended by the ecologist and they were not necessarily appropriate for every site.

·       A s106 contribution was not required due to the size of the development; payments for education provision could be specified for developments that met the threshold.  The application was received prior April 2024 which was when the biodiversity net gain requirements came into effect.

·       Conditions 2 and 9 covered the Public Protection concerns relating to the construction site.

·       The grass areas at the entrance to Hunters Way were part of the adopted highway, Highways should therefore take any action necessary to prevent parking on these areas.

Following debate, Cllr Vassie proposed the officer recommendation to approve the application, subject to the amendment to conditions for development to include hedgehog holes and swift boxes.  This was seconded by the Chair.

On being put to a vote, with seven Members in favour and one against, it was:

Resolved:             That officers be given delegated authority to approve the application as per the officer report and tabled update, subject to an amendment to condition 4 to include hedgehog holes and, following consultation with the CYC Ecologist, a possible amendment to condition 14 for the provision of swift bricks.  The exact wording of this amendment to be agreed by the Chair and Vice-Chair.

Reason:               The proposal as amended was considered to be appropriate in terms of its relationship to the pattern of development in the wider area. It is felt to be appropriate in highways and access terms and the proposed drainage strategy is acceptable. Subject to appropriate conditions attaching to any planning permission, it was felt that it would not give rise to undue harm to the residential amenity of neighbouring properties or the landscape and biodiversity value of the site.

[5.19 – 5.26 pm, the meeting adjourned.]