Issue - meetings

Report by Head of Development and Economic Growth

The Senior Planning Officer spoke to the terms of the report.  The current Masterplan proposal covers land associated with three individual PDA areas - PDA 5/3, PDA 5/6 and PDA 5/7 but relates primarily to PDA 5/7 at this time and promotes 100 affordable houses to be developed by Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA).  Officers consider that the components of the proposed Masterplan are compatible with the envisaged development of PDA 5/7.  However any development of PDA 5/3 or 5/6 would require to be the subject of a Stage 2 Masterplan submission, and would be dependent on the delivery of the Oban Development Road in respect of facilitating vehicular access, as well as further detailed consideration of the site specific constraints to development, such as potential loss of woodland and impacts upon biodiversity.    It was recommended that the Committee approve the current Masterplan submission as detailed at section 2 of the report of handling.

Decision

The Committee agreed:

1.    to provide endorsement to the elements of the Masterplan as they relate to the release of land for the development of 100 affordable housing units on PDA 5/7;

2.    the principle of allowing appropriate re-contouring of PDA 5/7 in order to facilitate a less linear and formal housing layout and allow the creation of a greater degree of building clustering, placemaking and landscape integration within the built form;

3.    to endorse the view of Officers that a high quality development, in accordance with the advice contained in the approved Larger Housing Developments Design Guide, Designing Streets and Placemaking advice is required on this site to promote a successful outcome for any future planning application;

4.    that the development of the site for 100 houses on PDA 5/7 is dependent on the Area Roads Engineer agreeing the extent and phasing of necessary roads improvements to Glencruitten Road in the interests of road safety as part of any future planning application submissions; and

5.    to endorse the view that a ‘Stage 2’ Masterplan submission will be required for further consideration of the Council in advance of either PDA 5/3 or PDA 5/6 being brought forward for development, to include details of vehicular access arrangement from the Oban Development Road.

(Reference: Report by Head of Development and Economic Growth dated 8 January 2020, submitted)