Issue - meetings

RESOLVED: That application 20/01764/FP be DEFERRED to require a more detailed assessment of the impact of the proposed development on the Codicote Conservation Area and further assessment of the surface water management aspects of the development taking into account local flood issues.

Audio Recording - 3 minutes 34 seconds

The Senior Planning Officer presented the report in respect of application 20/01764/FP supported by a visual presentation consisting of photographs and plans along with the following updates:

·                A late representation received stated that the development places 63 and 61 High Street under serious threat and risk of making these uninhabitable in future, with the basement of the site frequently flooding, that the LLFA response was based on data which is either incomplete or inaccurate; the plans submitted by application were not sufficiently researched, planned and lacked sufficient detail; and harm would be posed to the listed buildings and the conservation area.

·                Following discussions with the lead local flood authority (LLFA) the decision to support the application was restated.

·                The Senior Planning Officer was happy that the concerns had been considered, as validated by the LLFA, the Council’s Conservation Officer and Historic England;

·                There were no objections from Environmental Health Officer.

·                Fences could be erected without removing the existing boundary wall.

·                The car park will be set away from 63 High Street;

·                The letter does not raise any new issues which are not addressed in the Senior Planning Officer’s report.

·                The site would consist of 9 dwellings; a two-bedroom bungalow, five three-bedroom two story houses and three four-bedroom two story houses. There would be one detached garage and two bin stores. New hard and soft landscaping, including retaining wall and fencing, would be carried out and a new 11 space car park would be created. 

The following Members asked questions:

·                Councillor Mike Rice

In response to questions the Senior Planning Officer advised that EV charging points would be required by condition 12 in the report.

The Chair invited Mr David Hainsworth and Ms Catherine Gillings to speak.

Mr David Hainsworth thanked the Chair for the opportunity to speak against the application and gave a presentation including:

·                His house had large floor to ceiling windows across much of the back of the property

·                His house has not been extended and is exactly as it was built and approved in the 1990s and professionals consulted have said that his property is most adversely affected by development

·                He had concerns surrounding proximity, privacy, massing and boundary treatment.

·                NHDC Local Plan suggests there should be 30 metres minimum on sloping ground between two rear facing properties – on this site there is less than 20 metres.

·                Plots directly facing the rear garden will have large, bifold doors with large windows across the back of the property.

·                Due to the nature of the sloping on the site, the 1.8 metre fence was only waist height when standing and therefore there would be no privacy either way, across both stories.

·                Regarding massing, there are four plots at the rear of his property, approximately 29m wide, starting 20m from the rear of existing property.

·                The plots at 90° to the existing property are largely 9 metres high.

Ms Catherine Gillings thanked the Chair and gave a presentation which included:

·                The Drainage  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29