Agenda and minutes

It was noted that apologies for absence had been received from Councillors Annabel de Capell Brooke and Geoff Shacklock.  Councillors Wendy Brackenbury and Bert Jackson were attending as substitutes.

The Chair invited those who wished to do so to declare interests in respect of items on the agenda.

The following declarations were made:

Councillor Lee Wilkes advised that in relation to application NE/21/01375/FUL - 28 College Road, Irthlingborough, a letter had been submitted by the applicant’s agent stating that he had spoken as a member of the public at the meeting when the previous application had been considered.  This was not correct as he was a member of the previous Planning Management Committee and would have spoken as a Committee member.  The letter also stated that a complaint had been submitted to the Authority about him following the last Committee, and Councillor Wilkes wished to confirm that no complaint had been submitted.

Councillor Jennie Bone declared that she had visited all of the sites on the agenda.

Councillor Dorothy Maxwell declared that she had visited Napleton Lodge, Station Road, Raunds (NE/21/01272/FUL), 2 Orchard Lane, Woodnewton (NE/21/00994/FUL), 33 Kelmarsh Avenue, Raunds (NE/21/01134/FUL), Hargrave Lodge Farm, Shelton Road, Hargrave (20/00990/FUL) and 28 College Street, Irthlingborough (NE/21/01375/FUL).

Councillor Kirk Harrison declared that he had visited 28 College Street, Irthlingborough (NE/21/01375/FUL).

RESOLVED:-

That the minutes of the Area Planning Committee held on 18 October 2021, be confirmed as a correct record and signed.

Construction of garage

Recommendation: Grant

The Committee considered an application for the construction of a garage.

The Planning Development Manager presented the report which detailed the amended plans, description of the site, the planning history, relevant planning policies, outcome of consultations and an assessment of the proposal, providing full and comprehensive details.

It was recommended that planning permission be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report.

The Chair invited the Committee to determine the application.

Councillor Lee Wilkes clarified that Raunds Town Council had submitted an objection to the application in support of the original objection from the Local Highways Authority (LHA).  Now that the LHA had waived their objection, the Town Council no longer had any concerns.

It was proposed by Councillor Gill Mercer and seconded by Councillor Bert Jackson that planning permission be granted.

On being put to the vote, the motion for approval was unanimously carried.

RESOLVED:-

That planning permission be granted, subject to the conditions (and reasons) numbered in the report.

Change of use from agricultural use to mixed agricultural and equine use

Recommendation: Grant

The Committee considered an application for a change of use from agricultural use to mixed agricultural and equine use.

The Development Management Officer presented the report which detailed the proposal, description of the site, relevant planning policies, outcome of consultations and an assessment of the proposal, providing full and comprehensive details.

It was recommended that planning permission be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report.

The Chair invited the Committee to determine the application.

It was proposed by Councillor Gill Mercer and seconded by Councillor Wendy Brackenbury that planning permission be granted.

On being put to the vote, the motion for approval was unanimously carried.

RESOLVED:-

That planning permission be granted, subject to the conditions (and reasons) numbered in the report.

Conversion of garage to habitable room ancillary to existing dwelling

Recommendation: Grant

RESOLVED:

That planning permission be granted, subject to the conditions (and reasons) numbered in the report. The Committee considered an application for the conversion of a garage to a habitable room ancillary to the existing dwelling.

The Development Management Officer presented the report which detailed the proposal, description of the site, relevant planning policies, outcome of consultations and an assessment of the proposal, providing full and comprehensive details.

It was recommended that planning permission be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report.

The Chair invited the Committee to determine the application.

Members noted that there was a condition on the original estate development which prevented garages being converted to habitable rooms and clarification was sought as to whether that condition was still in place.  In response, officers confirmed the original condition covered the whole development and not individual plots.  Any future applications to do the same would need to be considered on their own merits.

It was proposed by Councillor Wendy Brackenbury and seconded by Councillor Gill Mercer that planning permission be granted.

On being put to the vote, there were 5 votes for the motion and 2 against, therefore the motion for approval was carried.

RESOLVED:-

That planning permission be granted, subject to the conditions (and reasons) numbered in the report.

Levelling of garden pond and associated drainage works (retrospective application)

Recommendation: Grant

The Committee considered an application for the levelling of a garden pond and associated drainage works (retrospective application).

The Development Management Officer presented the report which detailed the proposal, description of the site, the planning history, relevant planning policies, outcome of consultations and an assessment of the proposal, providing full and comprehensive details.

It was recommended that planning permission be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report.

A request to address the meeting had been received from the applicant Max Marsden and the Committee was given the opportunity to ask questions for clarification.

The applicant addressed the Committee and stated that the property was his family home and the pond was dangerous for his children when in the garden and so he had looked to make the garden safe.  He had taken advice on various aspects of the work but was not aware that planning permission was required and this was due to his lack of understanding of the process.

The Chair then invited the Committee to determine the application.

It was noted that the Principal Conservation Officer had objected to the application as they believed that the removal of the pond caused harm to the setting.  Officers clarified that the pond had been seen as significant to this and a neighbouring property, but it now served no purpose and the level of harm was seen as less than substantial.  A flood risk assessment had been submitted as part of the application and the Environment Agency had stated that the work had improved the flood risk situation.

It was proposed by Councillor Kirk Harrison and seconded by Councillor Dorothy Maxwell that planning permission be granted.

On being put to the vote, the motion for approval was unanimously carried.

RESOLVED:-

That planning permission be granted, subject to the conditions (and reasons) numbered in the report and the updated condition 2 on the Committee Update Report.

Erection of building for storage of light aircraft and hay and use of field as grass landing strip

Recommendation: Grant

The Committee considered an application for the erection of a building for storage of light aircraft and hay and use of a field as grass landing strip.

The Principal Development Management Officer presented the report which detailed the proposal, description of the site, the planning history, relevant planning policies, outcome of consultations and an assessment of the proposal, providing full and comprehensive details.

It was recommended that planning permission be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report and the resolution of flooding/drainage matters.

A request to address the meeting had been received from the applicant Anthony West and the Committee was given the opportunity to ask questions for clarification.

Mr West addressed the Committee and advised that the application had been submitted in August 2020 and he had been working proactively with the Local Planning Authority to proceed since then.  There would be no commercial aspect to the development, and it was solely for him to fly his vintage plane.

In response to Members questions on how fuel would be stored on the site, Mr West confirmed that no fuel would be stored and any refuelling would take place at other aerodromes.

The Chair then invited the Committee to determine the application.

It was proposed by Councillor Kirk Harrison and seconded by Councillor Bert Jackson that authority be delegated to the Director of Place and Economy to grant planning permission, subject to conditions once matters of flooding/drainage are resolved. In the event that these matters cannot be resolved, planning permission can be refused under delegated powers.

On being put to the vote, the motion was unanimously carried.

RESOLVED:-

That authority be delegated to the Director of Place and Economy to grant planning permission, subject to conditions once matters of flooding/drainage are resolved. In the event that these matters cannot be resolved, planning permission can be refused under delegated powers.

1 No 3-bedroom detached dwelling including, highway access/parking and amenity space (Re-submission of 20/01196/FUL)

Recommendation: Grant

The Committee considered an application for the erection of a building for storage of light aircraft and hay and use of a field as grass landing strip.

The Principal Development Management Officer presented the report which detailed the proposal, description of the site, the planning history, relevant planning policies, outcome of consultations and an assessment of the proposal, providing full and comprehensive details.

It was recommended that planning permission be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report and the resolution of flooding/drainage matters.

A request to address the meeting had been received from the applicant Anthony West and the Committee was given the opportunity to ask questions for clarification.

Mr West addressed the Committee and advised that the application had been submitted in August 2020 and he had been working proactively with the Local Planning Authority to proceed since then.  There would be no commercial aspect to the development, and it was solely for him to fly his vintage plane.

In response to Members questions on how fuel would be stored on the site, Mr West confirmed that no fuel would be stored and any refuelling would take place at other aerodromes.

The Chair then invited the Committee to determine the application.

It was proposed by Councillor Kirk Harrison and seconded by Councillor Bert Jackson that authority be delegated to the Director of Place and Economy to grant planning permission, subject to conditions once matters of flooding/drainage are resolved. In the event that these matters cannot be resolved, planning permission can be refused under delegated powers.

On being put to the vote, the motion was unanimously carried.

RESOLVED:-

That authority be delegated to the Director of Place and Economy to grant planning permission, subject to conditions once matters of flooding/drainage are resolved. In the event that these matters cannot be resolved, planning permission can be refused under delegated powers.

The Chair advised that this was Martyn Swann’s last meeting and wished to thank him for all of his support and wished him well for the future.

The Chair wished everyone a Happy Christmas and New Year.

The meeting closed at 8.57pm.