Agenda item

community use building (D1), public open space, de-culverting of part River Arrow, site re-profiling, access, parking, landscaping and associated development infrastructure (outline) – Land at Former Longbridge East Works, Groveley Lane, Cofton Hackett – St Modwen Developments and St Modwen Properties III SARL

As both the Outline and Reserved Matters Applications for the site were on the agenda for discussion that evening, with the agreement of the Chairman, and in order to facilitate Officer’s presentations and public speaking representations, the two applications were discussed together. It was reported, however, that for purposes of clarity the Committee’s decisions on the two applications would be recorded separately in the formal minutes of the meeting.

The Head of Planning and Regeneration Services reported on and provided additional clarification on a number of matters relating to: amended plans in respect of affordable housing provision; overall densities; land levels; the proposed; community building; public open space; and a number of additional terms for the Section 106 Agreement.  Additional comments, received from Cofton Hackett Parish Council, were also reported.

At the invitation of the Chairman, Mr J Tait, the Agent for the Applicants, addressed the Committee.

During the discussion, it was suggested that the recent Committee site visit, undertaken in respect of both Applications, had not been conducted in the appropriate manner.  Officers clarified that, the Applicant’s Agent had only been present to provide visual references in the context of the other sites within the whole development, that were outside of Bromsgrove’s boundary, and which the Council’s Planning Officers were not privy to information on. 

A motion to defer consideration of both Applications, in order to investigate the Council’s role in the matter, was lost on the vote.  Subsequent to the vote being lost, the three Committee Members who had requested the deferral  withdrew from the meeting and took no further part in the debate nor voted on the matter. 

RESOLVED that authority be delegated to the Head of Planning and Regeneration Services to determine the Outline Planning Application:

a)         upon receipt of a suitable and satisfactory legal mechanism in relation to Heads of Terms as detailed on pages 53 and 54 of the report;

b)         the following additional Heads of Terms:

(i)                 Payment of the District Council’s reasonable and proper legal fees incurred in connection with the completion of the Agreement.

(ii)               The payment of a monitoring fee at £50 per dwelling index linked applicable from the 230^th unit onwards

(iii)             The Owners undertake to provide employment and apprenticeships with skills training and further education to Local People in connection with the construction and operation of the Development in the following ways:

·      Prior to Implementation of the Development the Owners undertake to designate a Local Skills and Employment Co-ordinator who shall where practicable liaise with and work in partnership with the Longbridge Employment and Skills Group to ensure the aims of this Schedule are followed; and

·             To issue a written statement to contractors and sub-contractors for contracts associated with the construction or operation of the Development requesting that such contractors and sub-contractors use reasonable endeavours to notify local employment agencies in the District Council's area and the city of Birmingham of all job vacancies as soon as the vacancies are known; and that evidence of notification of all job vacancies be given to the District Council; and

·         To issue a written statement  to contractors for the Development requesting a written assurance from such contractors and sub-contractors to use reasonable endeavours to comply with equal opportunities of employment and training for Local People and Local Businesses and where possible to offer apprenticeships to Local People who may qualify under a government scheme or some other scheme that may be in place from time to time  by the government the District Council or some other employment agency at the time the Development is Implemented; and to advertise vacancies in local job centres and local newspapers; and to provide appropriate and adequate training skills for all new employees or apprenticeships during the construction phase of the development

            Clarity that the viability reviews to be submitted on completion of the 230^th and 477^th dwellings, with the viability review updating the current Delivery and Viability Report submitted with the current application; and

c)         upon completion of the agreement referred to in a) and b) above, Outline permission be granted, subject to the themes of Conditions set out or referred to on pages 54 and 55 of the report.