Agenda item

Report No: DEV/FH/15/028

(i) Change of use of agricultural building to dwellinghouse (Class C3) to create 1 no. dwelling (ii) associated operational development

Prior Approval Application DC/15/1402/PMBPA under Part 3 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015- (i) Change of use of agricultural building to dwellinghouse (Class C3) to create 1 no. dwelling (ii) associated operational development.

This application was referred to the Development Control Committee due to the applicant being related to an elected Member.  The application was recommended for approval as set out in Paragraph 51 of Report No DEV/FH/15/028.

In response to questions raised by Councillor Brian Harvey, the Planning Officer confirmed that the site was accessed via an established vehicular access off Church Lane and that no objections had been received from the Highway Authority.  She confirmed that should the applicant wish to alter the access this would be subject to a further planning application.

Councillor Harvey also queried as to why Town/Parish Councils were not informed of Prior Approval Applications within the weekly notification issued by the Council.  The Service Manager (Planning – Development) explained that it was not appropriate to debate this matter during consideration of a planning application at Committee and she would discuss it with the Member outside of the meeting.

Councillor Harvey then moved that the application be approved, as per the Officer recommendation, and this was duly seconded by Councillor Louis Busuttil and with the vote being unanimous, it was resolved that:

Prior approval be GRANTED subject to the following conditions:

1.   No other part of the development hereby permitted shall be commenced until the existing vehicular access has been improved, laid out and completed in all respects in accordance with DM02; and with an entrance width of 3 metres. Thereafter the access shall be retained in the specified form.

2.   Prior to the development hereby permitted being first occupied, the improved 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.

3.   Before the development is commenced details of the areas to be provided for storage of Refuse/Recycling bins shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The approved scheme shall be carried out in its entirety before the development is brought into use and shall be retained thereafter for no other purpose.

4.   Before the development is commenced details shall be submitted to and approved in 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.

5.   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.

6.   Before the development is commenced details of the areas to be provided for the loading, unloading, manoeuvring and parking of vehicles including secure cycle storage shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  The approved scheme shall be carried out in its entirety before the development is brought into use and shall be retained thereafter and used for no other purpose.

7.   Before the access is first used clear visibility at a height of 0.6 metres above the carriageway level shall be provided and thereafter permanently maintained in that area between the nearside edge of the metalled carriageway and a line 90 metres from the nearside edge of the metalled carriageway at the centre line of the access point (X dimension) to the east,  and a distance of to the west,  to the junction with Newmarket Road metres in along the edge of the metalled carriageway from the centre of the access (Y dimension). Notwithstanding the provisions of Part 2 Class A of the Town & Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (or any Order revoking and re-enacting that Order with or without modification) no obstruction over 0.6 metres high shall be erected, constructed, planted or permitted to grow within the areas of the visibility splays.