Caulmert has secured a resolution to grant outline planning permission for a major mixed use development consisting of 400 houses, a medical centre, a residential care home, a primary school and a local convenience shop. The site, at Ashby de la Zouch in Leicestershire, is a green field site, outside the Limits to Development set out in the Council’s Development Plan. The Council had previously refused planning permission for development of the land on this basis. However, it had since been established by the Secretary of State that the Council could not demonstrate a 5 year supply of housing. In such circumstances, the presumption in favour of sustainable development in the National Planning Policy Framework guides that planning permission should be granted unless the adverse effects of doing so significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits.
Following negotiations with the local authority, the planning application was submitted on 17th June and Caulmert worked with the local authority to ensure that the application was considered at a meeting of the Planning Committee on 6th August – a very quick timescale for an application of this scale. Caroline Chave, Associate Planner in Caulmert’s Codnor office, worked hard during the planning process to address any queries that were raised by statutory consultees such as Natural England and the Environment Agency. The proactive approach to early consultation and engagement with the local community had also ensured that objections from local residents were minimised. As such, the proposals were demonstrated to have no significant adverse effects. Furthermore the scheme would deliver a number of benefits including a new medical centre for the town and a variety of housing to meet local needs. Therefore the presumption in favour of sustainable development indicated that planning permission should be granted and the Planning Committee voted to grant outline planning permission on this basis.