Issue - meetings

REPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION MANAGER

Erection of one detached 4-bed dwelling including creation of vehicular access off Gosmore Road.

RESOLVED: That application 20/02573/FP be GRANTED planning permission subject to the reasons and conditions set out in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager and the following additional condition:

“Prior to the commencement of the development hereby permitted, full details of additional soft landscaping/planting within the site shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. Such planting shall thereafter be carried out in accordance with the approved details within the first planting season following the first occupation of the development. The additional trees and planting shall thereafter be retained for five years following planting and should any trees die or are damaged within the first five years they shall be replaced by trees of a similar size and species and thereafter retained for the remainder of the five year period.

Reason: To achieve a high quality soft landscaping scheme associated with this development in the interests of amenity and biodiversity.”

Audio Recording – 2 hours 57 minutes.

The Development and Conservation Manager presented the report in respect of Application 20/02573/FP supported by a visual presentation consisting of photographs and plans.

The Chair invited Mr Peter Hope to address the Committee.

Mr Peter Hope thanked the Chair for the opportunity to address the Committee and gave a presentation including:

·                He was opposed to the development;

·                The proposal would result in development out of keeping with the general character of the area;

·                The development was in-fill with significant visual impact on the surrounding area impairing its character and quality;

·                The proposed plot was smaller than that of surrounding residences and a development of this size on a small plot would impact neighbouring buildings;

·                Plans submitted indicated the north and south walls were 85 and 90 centimetres respectively from the border fences;

·                The site was elevated and had rear windows that would overlook neighbouring gardens resulting in loss of light and invasion of privacy;

·                The front aspect of the building was away from the main building line of the road and therefore out of keeping with the area;

·                Vehicles emerging from the site would exit on to a blind section of Gosmore Road at increased risk and as such the development contravened NPPF highways requirements.

The Chair invited Councillor Simon Harwood to address the Committee.

Councillor Simon Harwood thanked the Chair for the opportunity to address the Committee and gave a presentation including:

·                The development would substantially alter the prevailing character of the area;

·                The dwelling would grossly in-fill the land between existing properties;

·                The proposal would impact both the built and environmental character of the area;

·                Section 5.1.1 of the report states that the site was not development in the Green Belt which was not accurate where the access drive to the property sits on green belt land;

·                Access to the property off Gosmore Road was problematic for the reasons outlined above;

·                The front aspect of the property would form a new building line significant in front of existing properties;

·                The proposed dwelling would be too close to neighbouring dwellings;

·                The garden was not redundant before recent occupation;

·                The application should be rejected on the basis that the development sets a precedent for infill of garden land between properties changing the character of the local area.

The following Members asked questions:

·                Councillor Daniel Allen

In response to questions Councillor Simon Harwood advised that he lived around 1km from the proposed development and was not adversely affected by the proposals.

The Chair invited Mr Jerry Fiore to address the Committee.

Mr Jerry Fiore thanked the Chair for the opportunity to address the Committee and gave a presentation including:

·                The report of the Development and Conservation Manager was comprehensive and he endorsed its contents and recommendation;

·                The proposal was a high quality design in keeping with the surrounding area and acceptable on planning grounds;

·                The architect was keen to incorporate design elements that made the development sympathetic to the area including matching materials, a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 146