Issue - meetings

Outline application: demolition of existing development and redevelopment of the Site, including the construction of up to 333 dwellings (Use Class C3) of which 50% affordable housing, 66 bed Care Home (Use Class C2), Medical Centre (Use Class E (e)), Local Centre [containing Retail (Use Class E (a-c)), Community Facilities (use Class F2) and Cafe (Use Class E(a))] and associated play space, parking and associated infrastructure. New vehicular access onto Shepherds Lane and pedestrian and cycle accesses onto Shepherds Lane and Berry Lane, bus stop, bike station,  landscaping, pedestrian / cycleway access routes, green infrastructure including community amenity space, allotments, play areas, outdoor gym trail / equipment and associated infrastructure including sustainable urban drainage systems (all matters reserved except for access) at Catlips Farm, Berry Lane, Chorleywood.

Recommendation:

(1)   That Members agree for officers to arrange a site visit prior to this application being presented to Planning Committee for a decision; and

(2)   That the Committee notes the report and is invited to make general comments with regard to the material planning issues raised by the application.

The Committee considered an issues report prior to outline permission being sought for the demolition of existing development and redevelopment of the Site, including the construction of up to 333 dwellings (Use Class C3) of which 50% affordable housing, 66 bed Care Home (Use Class C2), Medical Centre (Use Class E (e)), Local Centre [containing Retail (Use Class E (a-c)), Community Facilities (use Class F2) and Cafe (Use Class E(a))] and associated play space, parking and associated infrastructure. New vehicular access onto Shepherds Lane and pedestrian and cycle accesses onto Shepherds Lane and Berry Lane, bus stop, bike station,  landscaping, pedestrian / cycleway access routes, green infrastructure including community amenity space, allotments, play areas, outdoor gym trail / equipment and associated infrastructure including sustainable urban drainage systems (all matters reserved except for access) at Catlips Farm, Berry Lane, Chorleywood.

The Planning Officer reminded those present that no decision was being sought at this stage; Members were invited to note and comment on the material planning issues raised by the application and consider undertaking a site visit.

The Planning Officer provided an update that since publication of the report, further information had been received from the applicant in respect of an updated ecology assessment, Biodiversity Net Gain statement, updated transport assessment and response in respect of landscape and heritage.  These were being reviewed by the consultees to the application.

Additionally, two further objection letters had been received from members of the public.  These had not raised any new matters which were not already included in the report.

Finally, a legal opinion had been sought by Chorleywood Parish Council and this had been shared with Planning Officers.  However, it had not yet been fully considered and was not addressed within the report.

Parish Councillor Jon Bishop of Chorleywood Parish Council spoke on the item.

The developer spoke in favour of the item.

Points raised by the speaker against the item included that further information was needed in the Green Belt section of the report, particularly in relation to the site’s role within the gap between Rickmansworth and Chorleywood, and visual separation and the measurements which had underpinned the officers’ opinion in relation to both of these matters; and the unsustainability of the site.

Points raised by the speaker in favour of the item included that the proposal respected the area whilst helping with the severe housing shortage; it would provide up to 333 homes of which 167 would be affordable housing, as well as a care home, medical centre, community uses, open space, bus service contribution and education service contribution.  The proposal would not change the identity of Chorleywood but would give more people the opportunity to become part of it.

Committee Members asked questions about the detail of the application which were responded to by officers.  The Committee’s discussions, comments and questions included the following:

·      Committee Members supported having a site visit before the application came to the Committee later in the year.  [Note: following the meeting it was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 154