'Grange' application

10.55.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sun 8th Apr 2007

Outline application permitted by planning officers...

The outline application to build on the land south of The Grange in Hilperton has been permitted.

The decision was made by planning officers as the parish council had no objection.

The permission is subject to a legal agreement to secure 30% affordable housing in accordance with policy; a contribution towards education needs in the area; the laying out and contribution to the future maintenance of an area of public open space within the site; provision of integrated cycleway and footpath leading into the existing network; provision of traffic calming measures within the development and locality; a contribution to the provision of public transport initiatives in the area; and a contribution to the provision of public art within the development.

The original application to build 30 houses on land south of The Grange was refused for three reasons: the distribution of social housing, the access arrangements, and the positioning of the cycle track.

The subsequent appeal was dismissed by the inspector. Whilst accepting the principle of development she disagreed with the 2 reasons for refusal relating to the access and the location of the footpath/cycleway. However she did agree that there should be a greater distribution of the social houses and that the design of them should be indistinguishable from the market units.

She also commented that the layout of the market housing merely reflected a 'more of the same' approach and that design aspirations have moved on since the original Paxcroft Mead was approved. All of this means that when Gallaghers submit their full plan they are going to have to reflect the inspector's comments which will probably mean a higher density approach with a greater number of smaller units which in turn will give rise to a greater number of affordable houses.

The inspector also commented:

"The appeal layout proposes a dreary range of standard and uniform house types, designed for 'nowhere in particular' to achieve the largest 3 and 4 bedroom detached houses on the site and to push the affordable housing onto the smallest possible area."