PAPER B2
ISLE OF WIGHT COUNCIL DEVELOPMENT CONTROL COMMITTEE – 25 FEBRUARY 2003
NEW DEVELOPMENT REVIEW
REPORT OF THE STRATEGIC DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE AND ENVIRONMENT SERVICES
Summary
To assess the success or otherwise of visits to ongoing or recently completed new development throughout the Island and to consider the benefits and disbenefits in terms of overall layout and design of the individual sites.
Background
As a result of a specific recommendation from the Audit Commission, and in the interests of good practice with the forthcoming Best Value Review in mind, Members agreed in November 2002 to conduct on a regular basis what is best described as a post-implementation review of new development.
Members, accompanied by the Development Control Manager, visited four sites in the West Wight on 16 January 2003 and four sites in the East Wight on 7 February 2003.
It is the intention of the Development Control Manager that these visits should take place every six months. They are scheduled not to conflict with the Development Control Committee (Site Visits) which takes place every three weeks. There is a relatively modest expense in terms of transportation and printing costs.
1. The exercise was considered to be successful and was judged to be worthwhile and informative and should continue on a six monthly basis and treated as an essential part of training for Members of the Development Control Committee.
2. The schedule attached to this report giving a brief appraisal of Members’ views on each development scheme be noted and used by Members and Officers as a benchmark when dealing with layout and design issues in connection with future planning applications.
3. The exercise was considered to be unsuccessful and should be discontinued.
As I said in my earlier report this is an exercise designed for Members of the Development Control Committee but, in my view, should be open to all Members, should they wish, particularly local Members when visiting sites in their area.
I believe that we identified a number of sites worthy of a visit by Members and both tours, which were reasonably well attended, should be regarded as a success making a contribution to the overall process, allowing Members to make a judgement on development resulting from decisions to grant permission as well as an opportunity for the improvement of Member/Officer relationships outside the pressurised decision making process.
I would strongly recommend that this six monthly review should continue and indeed should be further developed by the involvement of individuals who participated at the time of the processing and the determination of the application and the residents living in the new homes, possibly culminating in the Council making some kind of award to developers and/or agents responsible for schemes where the standard of layout and design is considered to be of a high quality.
The tour of the West Wight comprised:
1. Princes Esplanade, Gurnard, Cowes.
2. Land rear of Freshwater Library, School Green Road, Freshwater.
3. Brighstone Tea Gardens, Main Road, Brighstone.
4. Land between Scarrotts Lane and Pyle Street, Newport.
The tour of the East Wight comprised:
1. George Street, Ryde.
2. Land at Westridge Cross, Brading Road, Ryde.
3. Napoleon’s Landing, Esplanade, Sandown.
4. St Johns Road/Orchardleigh Road, Shanklin.
In the schedule attached to this report Members will note that the Development Control Manager has prepared a very brief appraisal of the consensus views expressed by those Members who went on the respective tours when they visited the aforementioned sites. If, for any reason, Members feel that these appraisals are a misrepresentation of the general opinions expressed on the day or issues have been overlooked this is a matter that should be resolved now so that the (amended) appraisals can be recorded and used as a consideration in connection with future applications.
RECOMMENDATION
1. The exercise was considered to be successful and was judged to be worthwhile and informative and should continue on a six monthly basis and treated as an essential part of training for Members of the Development Control Committee.
2. The schedule attached to this report giving a brief appraisal of Members’ views on each development scheme be noted and used by Members and Officers as a benchmark when dealing with layout and design issues in connection with future planning applications. |
Contact Point: C S Hougham, Development Control Manager
M J A FISHER
Strategic Director
Corporate and Environment Services