Nod given for 13 new homes despite blueprint concerns

OUTLINE planning permission has been granted for a cluster of new houses in a village near Ashbourne.

Members of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council’s planning applications committee approved the application at Capri, Gallows Green, Alton.

In a report to councillors, case officer Chris Johnston, said: “The forms state that 13 houses are proposed. It is a very similar application to one which was submitted in 2014 and granted outline permission on 15th December 2017 with a S106 to secure some affordable dwellings as part of the development and also an education contribution.

“This permission has now expired and therefore, this new application is effectively a resubmission or renewal of the previous application, which also specified a total of 13 dwellings would be provided at the site, comprising 12 new-builds and one existing dwelling.

“Although all matters are reserved, as with the previous application, the same indicative site layout plan has been submitted which shows the retention of the existing dwelling at Capri and a frontage development of four terraced houses facing Denstone Lane in front of the existing dwelling. A new detached dwelling is shown next to the existing dwelling.

“In the field to the rear, eight detached houses are shown, four either side of a cul-de-sac heading south towards the south boundary of the field and with the houses appearing to face the cul-de-sac and rear elevations facing the west and east boundaries.

“The total number of houses shown would therefore be 14 and not 13, but the drawing is only indicative and the forms clearly state a total of 13 houses would be present at the site. The access is shown to be next to the east boundary of the site, off Denstone Lane and nearly opposite the junction with Shirley Drive to the north.

“The new application is also supported by a letter from the agent which explains that the applicant would like the affordable units to be provided as “First Homes” dwellings. This is a new affordable housing initiative put forward in a government Ministerial Statement in June 2021. This appears to be similar to “Starter Homes” and the main components are as follows: A First Home must be discounted by a minimum of 30 per cent against the market value; and after the discount has been applied, the first sale of the home must be at a price no higher than £250,000.”

“Therefore the main difference with this new outline application is that the applicant wishes to deliver the affordable housing as entirely “First Homes” rather than the previous policy compliant mix of social-rented (via a Registered Provider) and intermediate part-owned, part rented, units.”

There were no objections from the county highways subject to conditions. It said: “The adjacent Allotment Lane is narrow and has poor visibility onto Denstone Road. Measures to improve Allotment Lane including to provide visibility should be included in a reserved matters application.”

Councillor Ben Emery said: “I support it, but do not like the indicative plan. I hope when the reserved matter plan comes back it will have houses at the back and not the front and also with half the houses or Capri will be dwarfed.”