Detailed plans to build 40 homes in Churchstoke have been submitted just days before outline permission was due to run out.
Abbey Construction Ltd have submitted an “all reserved matter” application to build a mixture of three and four bedroom houses and bungalows at land near Buttercup House in the centre of Churchstoke.
The application also include six affordable homes. The application was submitted on 14 May.
Outline planning application approved on 3 June, 2016, had a condition attached that said: “Any application for approval of the reserved matters shall be made to the local planning authority, not later than three years from the date of this permission.”
This means that the developers will need to discuss the details with planning officers and come to an agreement before they are approved.
The new plans differ from the original ones in several ways.
A planning statement for the original outline application said that site would be a mix of two bedroom bungalows to four bedroom two storey houses.
It was also proposed to have 25 per-cent affordable dwelling (10 of the 40).
This is four more the six affordable homes suggested now, which is 15 per-cent of the site.
Since the outline application was first submitted in 2015, a new Local Development Plan (LDP) came into force in April 2018.
Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) adopted in October 2018 which adds to the LDP, advises that affordable homes housing contributions should be: “The target contributions required to be made by development proposals will be based on the required contribution for the relevant sub-market area as:
• Central Powys – 30 per-cent contribution.
• Severn Valley – 20 per-cent contribution.
• North Powys – 10 per-cent contribution.
• South West Powys – 0 per-cent contribution.
“Contributions shall be made in the form of on-site affordable housing provision.”
If this is not acceptable at the plot, then developers would need to give a financial contribution or provide affordable homes elsewhere.
As the village in the Severn Valley, developments in Churchstoke would need to have 20 per-cent affordable homes.
The planning statement concludes: “The site area is perfectly capable of providing a layout which will be in keeping with other new developments in Churchstoke.
“The Primary school in Churchstoke has seen pupil numbers fall over the last five years from 90 to around 53.
“New family homes are required from affordable up to four bedroom detached giving a balanced mix of accommodation, allowing young families to stay in Churchstoke.”
By Elgan Hearn, Local democracy Reporter
