Agenda item

REPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION MANAGER

Erection of detached garage/store.

RESOLVED: That application 23/02040/FP be REFUSED planning permission due to the reasons outlined in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager.  

The Senior Planning Officer provided the following updates that:

·       A neighbour emailed advising that they did not object to the application but hoped that the comments regarding possible damage to the hedge were considered. Therefore, the word ‘objection’ would be changed to ‘comment’ under section 3.1.

·       The proposed garage would be set 0.75 meters from the boundary.

·       The proposed garage would have a maximum height of 2.7 meters.

The Senior Planning Officer presented the report in respect of application 23/0240/FP supported by a visual presentation consisting of photographs and plans.

The Chair invited Mr Josh Munford to speak in support of the application. Mr Munford thanked the Chair for the opportunity and provided the Committee with a verbal presentation including that:

·       He and his wife had lived in the area for 32 years.

·       The application was for a single garage to be built on a 218 square meter driveway.

·       The proposed plans sat away from the boundary and were on level with the footpath.

·       The property provided screening from public view by a 2.5 meter high evergreen red robin hedge.

·       Weston Way was an everchanging road with no distinct character.

·       The plans had been designed sympathetically to blend in with existing houses and area.

The following Members asked for points of clarification:

·       Councillor Daniel Allen

·       Councillor Val Bryant

In response to the points of clarification, Mr Munford advised:

·       The hedge was 2.55 meters high to the front of the property and 2.8 meters high to the right.

·       They owned two cars and wanted the garage to store a classic car which was not used daily.

·       There was enough space on the drive to do a full turn in a large vehicle.

The Chair thanked Mr Munford for his presentation. The Chair invited Councillor Alistair Willoughby to speak in support of the application as Member Advocate. Councillor Willoughby thanked the Chair for the opportunity and provided the Committee with a verbal presentation including that:

·       Mr Munford was willing to work with the planning department to come to a fair compromise.

·       The hedging around the property would prevent any significant view of the garage.

·       Weston Way had many properties all of which were of differing size.

·       There was no character in Weston Way that this planning application would negatively impact.

In answer to a point of clarification from Councillor Louise Peace, Mr Munford advised that he was prepared to move the application half a meter from the street line.

The following Members took part in a debate:

·       Councillor David Levett

·       Councillor Daniel Allen

·       Councillor Tom Tyson

·       Councillor Val Bryant

Points in the debate included that:

·       The garage would be out of keeping with that stretch of Weston Way.

·       The Council did not think it was right to change the street scene for this application.

·       This section of Weston Way would not benefit having this building put at the front of the house.

·       There was a clear street scene in that area without any garages.

·       The neighbours at 179 would suffer from a higher hedge as their garden was narrow.

Councillor David Levett proposed and Councillor Daniel Allen seconded and, following a vote, it was:

RESOLVED: That application 23/02040/FP be REFUSED planning permission due to the reasons outlined in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager.