Agenda item

Demolition of existing dwelling and erection of 6 dwellings.

Recommendation: Grant

The Committee considered an application for the demolition of an existing dwelling and the erection of six dwellings.

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 committee report.

Requests to address the meeting had been received from Dorothy Maxwell, an objector and Richard Colson, the agent, and the Committee was given the opportunity to ask questions for clarification.

Mrs Maxwell stated that the application made no sense.  The development would be cramped, over developed and have a difficult access with the junction at Washbrook Road being very bad.  There would be cramped amenity space and little parking.  The Committee needed to listen the planning inspector and local residents as this application was not substantially different to the previous application.

Mr Colson stated that he and the applicant welcomed the recommendation made by the officer.  This new application had addressed the concerns which had been raised in the appeal decision.  The number of dwellings had been reduced and the provision of parking had been improved.  Access to the site could also be accommodated.  The Local Highways Authority had still objected as there were over five properties using an access but there was now one less dwelling.  The recommendation was welcomed, and the objections had been overridden by the Inspector’s report.

The Chair invited the Committee to determine the application.

During debate on the application, the following points were made:

•      Members raised concerns about the entrance to the site and the impact on traffic as it was between two sets of traffic lights and was a very busy section of the road.  There was also concern at the impact the proposed gates would have on traffic.  In response, it was advised that the gates were more than 5.5m from the highway, which Highways advised was sufficient.  There was also a condition for the detail of the gates.

•      It was acknowledged that this application was an improvement on the original but there was disappointment at the lack of proposed amenity space.

•      There were still over five properties from a private driveway.  In response, the officer advised that the Planning Inspector had found that the earlier proposal for seven dwellings would not cause harm to the network and users.

•      Asked as to what weight the Committee needed to give to the Planning Inspector’s report, the legal advisor advised that the Inspector had examined the highways issues in a planning context and therefore a high weight should be given.

•      If the Committee were minded to grant the application, a condition should be added for the drive to be made to an adoptable standard.

•      It was noted that there was a tiled ornamentation on the site, and members believed that this should be retained as it was of historical value.

It was proposed by Councillor Lee Wilkes and seconded by Councillor Bert Jackson that planning permission be granted, subject to additional conditions for the drive to be made up to an adoptable standard and the tiled ornamentation to be preserved on the site.

On being put to the vote, there were five votes for the motion, none against and two abstentions, therefore the motion was carried.

RESOLVED:-

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

The meeting adjourned at 7.35pm and reconvened at 7.40pm.