Agenda item

Report No: DEV/SE/18/038

Planning Application - 1no. dwelling with associated external works

Planning Application - 1no. dwelling with associated external works

This application had been referred to the Development Control Committee following consideration by the Delegation Panel.

A Member site visit was held prior to the meeting.  The Parish Council had cited no objection to the scheme.

Officers were recommending that the application be refused for the reason set out in Paragraph 20 of Report No DEV/SE/18/038.

As part of his presentation the Planning Officer made reference to:

·         The ‘late papers’ which were issued as a supplement to the agenda papers and which outlined the extant planning permission on land immediately adjoining the application site.  The Case Officer explained that in light of this new information the reason for refusal remained, however, the extant permission was considered to strengthen the Officer position adopted in relation to the harm arising; and

·         Shadow drawings which had been requested by Members at the site visit.

Speakers:    Councillor Charles Merrifield (Barnham Parish Council) spoke in support of the application

                   Councillor Andrew Smith (Ward Member: Bardwell) spoke in support of the application

                   Mr Andrew Blenkiron (applicant) spoke in support of the application

A considerable debate took place by the Committee with Members voicing both support and opposition to the proposal.

The Principal Conservation Officer was invited to speak by the Chairman in order to further elaborate on her objection to the application in respect of the perceived harm it would cause to the setting of the listed building and the character of the wider conservation area.

Councillor Peter Stevens stated that, contrary to the reason for refusal, he considered that the development was not contrived and would not cause harm to the listed building/conservation area.  He, therefore, moved that the application be approved, contrary to the Officer recommendation, and this was duly seconded by Councillor David Roach.

The Committee was advised that the Decision Making Protocol would not need to be invoked in this case as Officers did not consider a risk assessment to be required.  The Planning Officer then outlined relevant conditions for the application that could be appended to an approval, if granted.

Upon being put to the vote and with 7 voting for the motion, 6 against and with 1 abstention, it was resolved that

Decision

Planning permission be GRANTED, CONTRARY TO THE OFFICER RECOMMENDATION OF REFUSAL, subject to the following conditions:

1.   The development hereby permitted shall be begun not later than 3 years from the date of this permission.

2.   The development hereby permitted shall not be carried out except in complete accordance with the details shown on the approved plans and documents.

3.   No other part of the development hereby permitted shall be commenced until the existing vehicular access has been improved, laid out and completed in accordance with SCC drawing DM01; and with an entrance width of 3.5. Thereafter the access shall be retained in the specified form.

4.   Prior to the dwelling hereby permitted being first occupied, the access onto the highway shall be properly surfaced with a bound material for a minimum distance of 5 metres from the edge of the metalled carriageway, in accordance with details previously submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority.

5.   Occupation of the dwelling hereby permitted shall not commence until the area(s) within the site shown on Drawing No. 17- 097 112B for the purposes of [LOADING, UNLOADING,] manoeuvring and parking of vehicles has been provided and thereafter that area(s) shall be retained and used for no other purposes.

6.   The areas to be provided for storage of Refuse/Recycling bins as shown on Drawing No. 17-097 112B shall be provided in its entirety before the development is brought into use and shall be retained thereafter for no other purpose.

7.   Before the access is first used details shall be submitted to and approved in Planning and Regulatory Services, St Edmundsbury Borough Council, West Suffolk House, Western Way, Bury St

          Edmunds Suffolk, IP33 3YU writing by the Local Planning Authority       showing the means to prevent the discharge of surface water from      the development onto the highway. The approved scheme shall be   carried out in its entirety before the access is first used and shall be        retained thereafter in its approved form.

8.   Gates shall be set back a minimum distance of 5 metres from the edge of the carriageway and shall open only into the site and not over any area of the highway.

9.   No development above ground level shall take place until a scheme of soft landscaping for the site drawn to a scale of not less than 1:200, has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The scheme shall include accurate indications of the position, species, girth, canopy spread and height of all existing trees and hedgerows on and adjacent to the site and details of any to be retained, together with measures for their protection during the course of development. Any retained trees removed, dying or becoming seriously damaged or diseased within five years

          of commencement shall be replaced within the first available      planting season thereafter with planting of similar size and species unless the Local Planning Authority gives written consent for any    variation. The works shall be completed in accordance with the           approved plans and in accordance with a timetable to be agreed           with the Local Planning Authority.

10.The dwelling hereby approved shall not be occupied until the optional requirement for water consumption (110 litres use per person per day) in part G of the Building Regulations has been complied with and evidence of compliance has been obtained.

(Councillor John Burns left the meeting at 1.37pm on conclusion of this item.)