Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Richards and Rickman.

To note any declarations of interest made by members in connection with an agenda item.  The nature of the interest must also be specified.

Members are asked to discuss any possible interests with Democratic Services prior to the meeting.

Cllr Reilly disclosed a non-pecuniary interest in application 24/10199, for transparency purposes as a Ward Member for Ashurst, Bramshaw, Copythorne & Netley Marsh.  He concluded there were no grounds under common law to prevent him from remaining in the meeting to speak and to vote.

Cllrs Penny and Sleep disclosed a non-pecuniary interest in application 24/10199 as members of the Planning Committee of Totton and Eling Town Council which had commented on the application. They concluded that as they had not voted on the application there were no grounds under common law to prevent them from remaining in the meeting to speak and to vote.

Cllr Woods disclosed a non-pecuniary interest in application 24/10837, for transparency purposes as a Ward Member for Fordingbridge, Godshill & Hyde. He concluded there were no grounds under common law to prevent him from remaining in the meeting to speak and to vote.

Cllr Hartmann disclosed a non-pecuniary interest in applications 24/10656 and 25/10058, for transparency purposes as a Ward Member for Fawley, Blackfield, Calshot & Langley.  He concluded there were no grounds under common law to prevent him from remaining in the meeting to speak and to vote.

Cllr Hawkins disclosed a non-pecuniary interest in application TPO/0008/24 as a member of the Planning Committee of New Milton Town Council.  He reported he would not participate or vote on the item.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 12 February 2025 as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 12 February 2025 be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To determine the applications set out below:

Outline planning application for the erection of up to 22,000sqm of employment use for logistic/warehouses (Use Classes B2 and B8) and ancillary office space with all matters reserved except for access

RECOMMENDED:

Delegated Authority be given to the Service Manager Development Management to GRANT PERMISSION subject to:

i)               The completion of a planning obligation entered into by way of a Section 106 Agreement to secure the matters set out in the report;

ii)              The imposition of the Conditions, set out in the report, and any additional / amended conditions deemed necessary by the Service Manager (Development Management), having regard to the continuing Section 106 discussions to ensure consistency between the two sets of provisions.

Details:

Outline planning application for the erection of up to 22,000sqm of employment use for logistic/warehouses (Use Classes B2 and B8) and ancillary office space with all matters reserved except for access

Public Participants:

Stuart Goodwill, Planning Issues Ltd (Agent)

Additional Representations:

None

Comment:

Cllr Reilly disclosed a non-pecuniary interest, for transparency purposes as a Ward Member for Ashurst, Bramshaw, Copythorne & Netley Marsh.  He concluded there were no grounds under common law to prevent him from remaining in the meeting to speak and to vote.

Cllrs Penny and Sleep disclosed a non-pecuniary interest as members of the Planning Committee of Totton and Eling Town Council which had commented on the application. They concluded that as they had not voted on the application there were no grounds under common law to prevent them from remaining in the meeting to speak and to vote.

Decision:

Delegated Authority be given to the Service Manager Development Management to GRANT PERMISSION subject to:

i)               The completion of a planning obligation entered into by way of a Section 106 Agreement to secure:

·       Delivery of highway access alterations at junction of site entrance, A326 and A36.

·       Preparation and delivery of detailed Employee Travel Plan(s)

·       Provision of a £49,500 Travel Plan bond

·       Biodiversity Net Gain on-site monitoring £5,225.00

ii)              The imposition of the Conditions, set out below, and any additional / amended conditions deemed necessary by the Service Manager (Development Management), having regard to the continuing Section 106 discussions to ensure consistency between the two sets of provisions.

Conditions / Reasons:

As per report (Item 3a)

Erection of a 70-bedroom care home (Use Class C2) with associated access, parking, landscaping and ancillary facilities

RECOMMENDED:

Delegated Authority be given to the Service Manager (Development Management) to:

i)               Take receipt of and have regard to any comments from Natural England in response to the Council’s Appropriate Assessment

ii)              the prior completion of an agreement pursuant to Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act to secure the matters set out in the report

Then GRANT PERMISSION subject to the imposition of the conditions set out below and any additional / amended conditions deemed necessary by the Service Manager (Development Management), having regard to the comments from Natural England and due to the continuing Section 106 discussions to ensure consistency between the two sets of provisions.

Details:

Erection of a 70-bedroom care home (Use Class C2) with associated access, parking, landscaping and ancillary facilities

Public Participants:

Rachel Lamb, Gillings Planning Ltd (Agent)

Jeremy Harrison (Objector)

Additional Representations:

The Case Officer reported that two further letters had been received, one from the adjoining landowner and one from the applicants agent in response to that letter, these had been included in the update note.   A further letter had been received in objection to the application from a local resident which reiterated concerns which had already been raised, in relation the air source heat pumps, level of car parking, noise, light pollution and the impact on dark skies.  It was noted that the boundary dispute matter had been resolved.

Comment:

Cllr Woods disclosed a non-pecuniary interest, for transparency purposes as a Ward Member for Fordingbridge, Godshill & Hyde. He concluded there were no grounds under common law to prevent him from remaining in the meeting to speak and to vote.

The Case Officer reported the following typographical errors in the report:

·       Page 74 of the agenda pack; Under the heading, “Habitat mitigation due to increased recreational impact”, first paragraph.  The first sentence should refer to New Forest SAC, rather than Ashdown Forest SAC.

·       Page 75 of the agenda pack: Second paragraph, first sentence should refer to likely (and not unlikely).

The Case Officer also reported that a number of conditions had been amended, and the revised conditions had been included in the update note published prior to the meeting.

Decision:

Delegated Authority be given to the Service Manager (Development Management) to:

i)               Take receipt of and have regard to any comments from Natural England in response to the Council’s Appropriate Assessment; and

ii)              the prior completion of an agreement pursuant to Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act to secure the following:

·       In accordance with the submitted Reptile Mitigation and Management Strategy December 2024, to secure off-site provision for a minimum of four reptile refugia, and future monitoring and management (minimum 10-year period for monitoring but refugia maintained in perpetuity, including arrangements to set out receptor site).

·       Submission, approval and implementation of a full Travel Plan

·       Completion of a Section 278 Junction Agreement prior to commencement County Council legal agreement charge

·       Air Quality Monitoring Contributions

Then GRANT PERMISSION subject to the imposition of the conditions set out in the report and update note and any additional / amended conditions deemed necessary by the Service Manager (Development Management), having regard to the comments from Natural England and due to the continuing Section 106 discussions to ensure consistency between the two sets of provisions

Conditions / Reasons:

As per report (Item 3b) and update note

Variation of condition 2 (approved plans) of planning permission 22/11140 to allow change in design, including dwellings being closer together, and the addition of a flat porch over the front doors and bin and cycle storage details.

RECOMMENDED:

Grant subject to conditions

Details:

Variation of condition 2 (approved plans) of planning permission 22/11140 to allow change in design, including dwellings being closer together, and the addition of a flat porch over the front doors and bin and cycle storage details.

Public Participants:

Mr Vass (Applicant)

Mr Nicholas Barnes (Objector)

Additional Representations:

The Case Officer reported that two additional letters had been received since the agenda was published.  One had been received and included within the officer updates and a further one had been received after these had been published.  The representations raised concerns about the compliance with the nationally described space standards and the location of the refuse storage.

Comment:

Cllr Hartmann disclosed a non-pecuniary interest, for transparency purposes as a Ward Member for Fawley, Blackfield, Calshot & Langley.  He concluded there were no grounds under common law to prevent him from remaining in the meeting to speak and to vote.

Decision:

Grant subject to conditions

Conditions / Reasons:

As per report (Item 3c)

Replacement dwelling

RECOMMENDED:

Grant subject to conditions

This application was withdrawn from the agenda.

Use of existing ancillary accommodation as an independent dwelling with associated car parking, highways works and ancillary infrastructure.

RECOMMENDED:

Refuse

Details:

Use of existing ancillary accommodation as an independent dwelling with associated car parking, highways works and ancillary infrastructure

Public Participants:

Nick Cobbold, Bell-Cornwall Planning Consultants (Agent)

Additional Representations:

None

Comment:

The Case Officer reported a correction to the background section of the report, where reference should be made to Coutts Cottage as a Grade II listed building rather than Marsh Farm Cottage.  It was confirmed that Marsh Farm Cottage was not a listed building.  This had been included in the update note published prior to the meeting.

The Case Officer reported that an additional plan had been included within the officer presentation.  It was clarified that this was not a new plan, but had been omitted from the presentation which had been published online. 

Decision:

Refuse

Conditions / Reasons:

As per report (Item 3e)

Double sided sign mounted on two poles with reflective text (Application for Advertisement Consent) (Retrospective)

RECOMMENDED:

Grant advertisement consent

Details:

Double sided sign mounted on two poles with reflective text (Application for Advertisement Consent) (Retrospective)

Public Participants:

Mr Rob Elliott (Applicant)

A statement was read out on behalf of Mr and Mrs Bailey (Objectors)

Additional Representations:

The Case Officer reported that the number of letters of support had increased from 6 to 10, and that the number of objections had increased from 10 to 20 since the report had been published. 

In addition to these, the applicant had also submitted letters of support and a statement had been received from the neighbour in objection to the application.  An objection had also been received from ward member, Cllr Alan Alvey.

Comment:

Cllr Hartmann disclosed a non-pecuniary interest, for transparency purposes as a Ward Member for Fawley, Blackfield, Calshot & Langley.  He concluded there were no grounds under common law to prevent him from remaining in the meeting to speak and to vote.

The Case Officer reported that a revised block plan had been received showing the position of the sign more accurately.

Members of the Planning Committee expressed the view that the reflective nature of the sign had a detrimental impact on the amenity of the immediate neighbour.  They felt that due to light reflection from the sign it was intrusive into the main bedroom of the neighbour.  This was contrary to Policy ENV 3 of the Local Plan.

Decision:

Refuse

Conditions / Reasons:

The sign, by reason of its reflective lettering, has a detrimental impact on the amenity of the neighbour, Omega, in respect of its intrusive nature on their front bedroom window from light reflection and therefore contrary to Policy ENV3 of the Local Plan Part 1: Planning Strategy for the New Forest District outside the National Park.

Demolish the existing pair of semi-detached houses and erect two pairs of semi-detached houses (4.no total) with associated access and parking, including detached garage for Unit 4

RECOMMENDED:

Grant subject to conditions

Details:

Demolish the existing pair of semi-detached houses and erect two pairs of semi-detached houses (4.no total) with associated access and parking, including detached garage for Unit 4

Public Participants:

Darryl Howells, Darryl Howells Planning Consultancy (Agent)

Cllr Gareth DeBoos, Ringwood Town Council

Additional Representations:

None

Comment:

The Case Officer reported the agent had requested an amendment to condition 12.  This has been discussed with the ecologist and revised condition was proposed.  This had been included in the update note. 

A verbal amendment was also reported to correct the last sentence of the fifth paragraph from the bottom on page 169 of the agenda pack.  This referred to the lack of a completed legal agreement, and the presumption in favour of sustainable development not applying.  However, a Section 106 agreement had been secured and therefore the presumption in favour of sustainable development did apply in this instance. 

Decision:

Grant subject to conditions

Conditions / Reasons:

As per report (Item 3g) and updates

Proposed garden room

RECOMMENDED:

Grant subject to conditions

Details:

Proposed garden room

Public Participants:

Statements were read out on behalf of Claire Snowdon-Darling (Applicant) and Felicity Robinson (Objector).

Additional Representations:

None

Comment:

None

Decision:

Grant subject to conditions

Conditions / Reasons:

As per report (Item 3h)

RECOMMENDATION:

To confirm the Tree Preservation Order

Details:

Proposed TPO – Mature sycamore tree

Public Participants:

None

Additional Representations:

None

Comment:

Cllr Hawkins disclosed a non-pecuniary interest as a member of the Planning Committee of New Milton Town Council.  He reported he would not participate or vote on the item.

Decision:

That the Tree Preservation Order be confirmed

Conditions / Reasons:

As per report (Item 3i)