Agenda item

We considered the report of the application and late correspondence, which was recommended for approval subject to conditions, as outlined in the report (and as amended in late correspondence) and subject to a Section 106 Agreement and a Section 278 Agreement, as also outlined in the report.

Councillor D. Rooke, representing Chepstow Town Council, attended the meeting by invitation of the Chair and outlined the following points:

·         Chepstow Town Council recommend approval of this application with reservations, mainly the traffic analysis and flooding risks.

·         Capacity of A48 needs to be considered with focus on key times of the day.

·         Disappointment voiced at the level of social housing this development offers.

·         Hope that the County Council ensures that social housing is spread across the site.

·         Look to a long term solution to the traffic issue by communicating with the neighbouring authority Gloucestershire County Council.

A local resident Jez Becker, attended the meeting by invitation of the Chair and outlined the following points:

·         Concerns for the extra traffic proposals.

·         Positivity for the development as it captures the historical nature of the site.

·         Disappointment at the low level of affordable housing.

The local Member, attended the meeting by invitation of the Chair and outlined the following points:

·         Praise for the way the development has been approached and the evidence of cross border thinking.

·         Concern for the amount of affordable housing offered by the development.

·         The need for affordable housing for existing residents.

Cabinet Member for Social Housing, County Councillor Phyl Hobson, attended the meeting by invitation of the Chair and outlined the following points:

·         Disappointed by the low affordable housing figures.

·         Affordable housing opportunities by developing the offered 1.5 acres of land. Accessing Welsh Government grant funding and working with two housing associations.

·         Young working families unable to get onto the housing ladder due to the high property prices.

·         If land values increase after the lowering of the Severn Bridge tolls it was asked if we could revisit the price offered by the developer.

·         Requested that the S106 be worded to keep options open to allow the 1.5 acres of land to be developed in innovative ways for affordable housing as being promoted by the Welsh Government.

The agent for the development Tim Gent, attended the meeting by invitation of the Chair and outlined the following points:

The wish for a high quality, sustainable development for one of Monmouthshire’s largest brown field site.

The development being a major economic boost for Monmouthshire.

In noting the detail of the application, some Members expressed the following points in regard to the application:

·         Members were unanimous in voicing their disappointment at the low level of affordable housing provision.

·         A Member asked that the district valuer’s viability appraisal for the land could be revisited if land or property prices increase.

Having considered the report of the application and the views expressed, it was proposed by County Councillor J. Higginson and seconded by County Councillor M. Powell that application DC/2014/01290 be approved subject to the forty-three conditions, as outlined in the report.

Upon being put to the vote, the following votes were recorded:

For approval - 11

Against approval - 1

The proposition was carried.

We resolved that application DC/2014/01290 be approved subject to the amended conditions in late correspondence and the S106 and S278, with delegated authority for the Head of Planning to conclude if condition 11 is needed, but also subject to the Head of Planning first trying to negotiate more housing land for affordable housing.  There is agreement from Committee to report back on that to the Delegation Panel. There was need for a ‘Design Code’ condition to be added too - to ensure the continuity of design throughout the development site, as discussed with Members

County Councillor M. Powell left the meeting following determination of application DC/2014/01290 and did not return.