Green light for new housing development at Little Stanneylands

Plans for a new housing development at Little Stanneylands have been approved by the Northern Planning Committee.

Planning permission has been granted for the demolition of five existing buildings, comprising three single storey stable buildings, a small stable block and a large two-storey barn, and replacement with eight dwellings.

Previous plans to build ten homes (ref. 20/4737M) on the one hectare site, located immediately south of the large residential development which currently under construction in February 2022 because the proximity, location and height of three of the closest homes would cause harm to the significance of the group of listed buildings adjacent - including Little Stanneylands, the Barn and Rose Cottage - all of which were grade II listed in 1984.

The planning officer recommended members of the planning committee approve the plans because the removal of the two dwellings, which were furthest south of the site, allowed the retention of a buffer between the listed buildings and new development which resulted "in an acceptable impact on the listed buildings and their setting, which addresses the previous reason for refusal".

Cllr Don Stockton told the committee "When it's gone it's gone." and asked them to refuse the application saying "Little Stanneylands is part of our heritage. The unspoiled setting of these buildings is everything." He also expressed his concerns regarding the provision of affordable on the site and the issue of the access being right next to a pelican crossing, which he stated should have been from the roundabout.

Lewis Edwards, the applicant's agent, said "You previously considered an application for 10 dwellings that was refused against officer recommendation on the grounds of heritage and for no other reason. Following this refusal the applicant's been working very closely with the conservation officer to establish what elements of the scheme would need to change in order to overcome the previous concerns and members' reasons for refusal.

"The stance was the area south of the new access should be clear of new dwellings in order to maintain an open aspect in front of the listed buildings. The applicant has addressed this by reducing the number of dwellings from 10, in the previous application to 8. Plot 7, as you have heard from officer's has also been changed from to a bungalow, therefore much lower and with much less impact. "

There was also a lot of discussion around the provision of affordable and subject of off-site mitigation and a biodiversity payment of £15,000.

Dr Ashley Weinberg also spoke against the application, focussing on ecological and biodiversity issues. He told the committee that a "mini nature reserve' was at stake "where a protected species of bat has been recorded and where over 200 species of moths reside."

The scheme, planning reference 22/1567M, was approved by 9 votes to 2, with amended proposals to refer back to the planning offer to secure affordable housing and explore maximising on-site biodiversity, in conjuntion with ecologist and agent.