Issue - meetings

Item 7: (Amended plans) Demolition of existing four dwelling houses and the erection of nineteen dwellings, with associated access, parking and landscaping

1-4 Woodpeckers Drive, Winchester

Case number: 20/01554/FUL

During public participation, Elizabeth and Roger King and Russell Blackman spoke in objection to the application and Chris Rees (applicant) spoke in support of the application and all answered Members’ questions thereon.

During public participation, Councillor Weir spoke on this item as Ward Member.

In summary, Councillor Weir made reference to the three other contiguous development sites in this area by the same developer: Meadowlands, The Close and 6 Woodpeckers Drive, as well as the proposed application. She stated that policy DM14 had not been applied on these sites and that the lack of affordable housing contribution, as specified in policy CP3, was wholly unacceptable. In addition, Councillor Weir made reference to the s106 agreement, the covenant for the previous developments, market uplifts and the affordable housing viability assessment for the proposed application which needed to be questioned.

In conclusion, Councillor Weir urged the committee to refuse the application as she considered it did not accord with policy CP3.

In response to Members’ questions, the Service Lead: Estates provided clarification regarding the viability assessment report, existing use values and expectations in respect of land values.

At the conclusion of debate, the committee agreed to grant permission for the reasons and subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the Report.