Planning Committee

The committee met on 2 April 2025 to consider planning applications, the yearly monitoring report on the Local Development Plan, and recent planning appeal decisions. The minute resolves that decisions be recorded as shown on the applications schedule, but that schedule was not available for this summary, so individual decisions are not listed. No decision is recorded on the other two items, which were presented for information.

Some sentences of this summary are missing in English, because an older automatic check removed them from the English only. The Welsh version has them.

1. Planning applications schedule

   Decided

   The minute records that decisions be recorded as shown on the planning applications schedule in Appendix A, and that the Planning and Development Manager is authorised to draft any amendments to conditions, additional conditions or reasons for refusal. The schedule itself was not available for this summary, so individual decisions are not listed.

   Why

   Application 24/0747 is for an electricity substation compound at the Celtic Technology Centre, Celtic Lakes. The applicant asked to reword three conditions after the Local Highways Authority and Natural Resources Wales commented. Officers say both bodies accept the changes and that they do not weaken the intent of the conditions. Application 24/0813 is for a dog walking area on farmland at Church Farm, Llanmartin, which is already in use. The agent sent a Green Infrastructure Statement and a case for using best and most versatile (BMV) farmland, meaning the top grades of agricultural land. Officers dispute that the case shows an overriding need or outweighs the loss of farmland. They accept the new statement removes refusal reason 3, but say no information answers the public right of way reason.

   Based on the minutes, Development Management: Planning Application Schedule, 24.0747 Late Representations PDF, 24.0813 Late Representations PDF

2. Local Development Plan annual monitoring report

   Decided

   The minutes record no decision on this item.

   Why

   The Local Development Plan (LDP) is Newport's main planning policy document, covering 2011 to 2026. The Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) is a yearly check on how well the plan works, and it is sent to Welsh Government. The 2024 report covers April 2023 to March 2024. It finds that 8,267 new homes, including 1,650 affordable homes, have been built since 2011, and that 89% of new homes were built on previously developed land. It says further work is needed on developments at risk of flooding and on employment land policies, to be addressed in the replacement LDP. The minute records that a planning policy officer presented the report and that members considered it, but it records no views from individual members.

   Based on the minutes, Local Development Plan Annual Monitoring Report, NCC Annual Monitoring Report

3. Appeal decisions

   Decided

   The minutes record no decision on this item.

   Why

   An appeal is a challenge to a planning decision, heard by the Planning Inspectorate or Welsh Ministers rather than the council. The report lists four recent decisions. An enforcement appeal over a driveway at 32 Tredegar Park View was allowed and planning permission granted. An appeal against refusal to convert a garage at 44 Spencer Way was dismissed. An appeal over a steel lock-up building at Ford House, Leeway was allowed, and the applicant's costs claim was refused. The minute records only that members' attention was drawn to the report for information.

   Based on the minutes, Appeal Decisions

Written by AI from the council's minutes and reports. Sentences with a number or name that can't be found in those papers are removed automatically, but mistakes are still possible. Councils publish no word-for-word record of meetings, so this says what was decided and why. Read the official papers to be sure.

1. 2

   Declarations of Interest

   Minute

   None.

2. 3

   Minutes of the Previous Meeting

   Minute

   The minutes of the meeting held on 05 March 2025 were submitted. Resolved That the minutes of the meeting held on 05 March 2025 be taken as read and confirmed.

   Papers: Minutes of the Previous Meeting, Decision Schedule 05.03.2025
3. 4

   Development Management: Planning Application Schedule

   Minute

   (1) That decisions be recorded as shown on the Planning Applications Schedule attached as an Appendix A (2) That the Planning and Development Manager be authorised to draft any amendments to/additional conditions or reasons for refusal in respect of the Planning Applications Schedule, attached.

   Papers: Development Management: Planning Application Schedule, 24.0747 Late Representations PDF, 24.0813 Late Representations PDF
4. 5

   Local Development Plan Annual Monitoring Report

   Minute

   The Principial Planning Policy Officer presented the Local Development Plan Annual Monitoring Report. Members considered the report – to access a full recording of the discussion please refer to the Council’s YouTube channel. Democratic meetings / Cyfarfodydd democrataidd.

   Part of an issue followed across 4 meetings

   Papers: Local Development Plan Annual Monitoring Report, NCC Annual Monitoring Report
5. 6

   Appeal Decisions

   Minute

   Members attention was drawn to the appeals report for information.

   Papers: Appeal Decisions

Councillors must say when they have a personal link to something being discussed, such as a job, a property or a family member. A prejudicial interest is one strong enough that the councillor usually leaves the room and takes no part.

The minutes record no declarations of interest.

• Malcolm Linton, Deputy ChairLabourAbsent
• Mark Spencer, ChairLabourPresent
• Bev Perkins, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Gavin Horton, Committee MemberLabourSent apologies
• Jason Jordan, Committee MemberNewport Independent PartyPresent
• John Jones, Committee MemberConservativeSent apologies
• John Reynolds, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Mark Howells, Committee MemberIndependentSent apologies
• Tim Harvey, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Trevor Watkins, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• William Routley, Committee MemberConservativePresent

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