Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from City Councillors Flaubert and Scutt and South Cambridgeshire District Council Councillors Bradnam and Hawkins.

City Councillors Baigent and Page-Croft and South Cambridgeshire District Councillors John Williams are attending as alternates in the Chamber.

Councillor J Williams was elected unopposed as Vice Chair for the meeting in the absence of the Committee’s standing Vice-Chair.

The minutes of the meetings held on 16 March and 6 April 2022 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Committee received a reserved matters application.

The reserved matters application sought approval for the second housing phase (known as BDW2) including 323 dwellings with associated internal roads, car parking, landscaping, amenity and public open space. The Reserved Matters include access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale and related partial discharge of conditions 8, 10, 14, 17, 18, 22, 25, 26, 28, 35, 40, 49, 52, 58, 62, 63, 66 and 69 pursuant to outline approval 07/0003/OUT

The Principal Planner updated their report by referring to the Amendment Sheet which read as follows:

Following publication of the agenda, a further representation was received from the owner/occupier of 29 Woodlark Road about drainage issues with particular interest in the works to the ditch to the rear of Woodlark Road and bunding. A link to the Committee report was provided and the relevant sections were highlighted showing how these matters have been assessed, including the recommended conditions condition 6 (landscape management and maintenance plan), condition 18 (ditch maintenance) and condition 19 (bund construction detail). The third party responded to advise their concerns had been addressed. A copy of the representation has been added to the application file

Mr Chris Fry (Applicant) addressed the Committee in support of the application.

The Committee raised the following comments in response to the Officer’s presentation and report:

      i.         Thanked the Officers for working with the applicant to enable such positive changes in response to the previously refused application.

    ii.         The application was much improved which would benefit both current and future residents.

   iii.         Welcomed cycle parking at the front of the dwellings on some plots and queried how access to the cycle parking at the rear of other properties would be gained.

  iv.         Queried if it were possible to include a condition that would allow those car parking spaces to be used for more cycle parking (particularly for cargo bikes) or car club spaces.  Information should be supplied to homeowners to incentivise these initiatives.

    v.         It was vital to future proof all sites for adequate cycle and car club parking to assist in the reduction of carbon emissions in the city. 

  vi.         Would like to be certain that green roofs were standard for bins and cycle storage.

 vii.         Suggested there should be no permitted development on the site.

viii.         Expressed concern that additional equipment placed on the buildings by residents such as satellite dishes and tv ariels would eradicate the aesthetics of the architecture of the site and this should not be allowed to occur.

  ix.         Recommended that hedgehog holes were standard as part of the relevant fencing condition.

    x.         Worried that a desire line being created across the pavilion green could also be used by motorised two-wheel vehicles; this would create a risk to the children’s play area and was not good design.

  xi.         Suggested the hedgerow to the east of the allotments should be a footpath creating an easier route for residents to access the plots; asked if this could be supported as part of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22/25/JDCC

The Committee received an application for full planning permission.

The application sought approval for continued temporary use of Cambridge Depot at Cowley Road from December 2023 until December 2026.

The Planning Officer updated her report by referring to the Amendment Sheet which read as follows:

To Note: This is a Regulation 3 planning application made under Regulation 3 of the Town and Country Planning General Regulations 1992, in as much as it is the City Council’s own application for development on its own land.

Pre-Committee Amendments to the Officer Recommendation:

1. Proposed Condition 2 (Temporary permission) Minor change to wording to include a date for the restoration scheme to be submitted for approval, as follows:

‘2. Temporary Permission The use hereby permitted shall be discontinued and the land restored to its former condition in accordance with a scheme of works to be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority, on or before 19th December 2026, on or before 19th December 2026, in accordance with a scheme of works to be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority by 19th June 2026.

Reason: To enable the Local Planning Authority to assess the impact of the use on the amenity of the surrounding area.’

Will Nicholls (Applicant’s Agent) addressed the Committee in support of the application.

The Committee made the following comments in response to the Officer’s report:

      i.         asked for the officer’s comments on the continued use of the temporary portacabins in terms of staff amenity;

    ii.         enquired if there had been any complaints from residents regarding the temporary cabins while the depot had been in operation.

The Planning Officer and Delivery Manager Strategic Sites said the following in response to Members’ questions:

      i.         There was approximately 18 staff permanently on site with the majority of the 80 staff working off site for the best part of their working day.

    ii.         The use was for a limited time only while improved facilities were put in place.

   iii.         The current facilities were appropriate and comfortable for staff and their wellbeing was being provided for. There were no issues which would stop this application being considered and approving the Officer’s recommendation.

  iv.         Were not aware of any complaints from residents and none had been highlighted by the Environmental Health Team regarding the use of the temporary cabins.

The Committee:

Unanimously resolved to:

Approve the temporary use of Cambridge Deport at Cowley Road for three years subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the Officer’s report (section 12) from p140 of the agenda pack and the amendment sheet

The report contains exempt information during which the public is likely to be excluded from the meeting subject to determination by the Committee following consideration of a public interest test.  This exclusion would be made under paragraph 5 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

The Committee resolved to exclude members of the public from the meeting on the grounds that, if they were present, there would be disclosure to them of information defined as exempt from publication by virtue of paragraph 5 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

The Committee

Unanimously resolved to approve the Officer’s recommendations as amended.