Issue - meetings

Matters reserved for the appearance, design and scale of the detached dwelling to Plot 1 only along with approval for the siting of the dwelling and detached garage and the proposed landscaping and boundary treatment following outline planning permission S/3462/16/OL

By seven votes to four, the Committee approved the application, subject to the Conditions and Informatives set out in the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development.

(Councillors John Batchelor, Cahn, de Lacey, Fane, Handley, Milnes and Rippeth voted to approve the application. Councillors Heylings, Topping, Heather Williams and Wright voted for refusal.)

The case officer read out an objection received subsequent to publication of the agenda. The objection related to the proposal’s impact on the nearby heritage asset. The applicant had submitted a revised plan showing that the ground level and the dwelling had been reduced in height by one metre.

Daniel Fulton (on behalf of local objectors), Mike Briggs (applicant), Councillor Debbie Pearce (Arrington Parish Council) and Councillor Heather Williams (in her capacity as local Member) addressed the meeting.

During a wide-ranging and extensive debate, some Members made comments covering the following:

·         Impact of the building’s mass was unlikely to be reduced simply by lowering the dwelling by one metre, which was not seen as a sufficient reduction

·         some weight should be given to the objection of “less than substantial harm” raised by the Historic Buildings Officer

·         The proposed building did not sit well within its location and would have a significant and adverse impact

·         The Committee needed to see verified views: it had requested these on 14 August 2019, but they had not been provided

·         The proposal would be overbearing by virtue of its mass, scale and appearance

However, other Members expressed different opinions covering the following:

·         Regarding concern raised by the Parish Council about “multi-level” car parking, perceived adverse impact of this should be mitigated by appropriate soft landscaping: on balance, the application should be approved

·         The revised plan represented a significant change and demonstrated the applicants’ determination to address local concerns

·         While the design could have been better, the proposal’s status as an eco-home should not be given particular weight

·         impact was unlikely to be as severe as some people feared

The case officer made it clear that the revised plan showed the entire building as having been lowered by one metre – not simply the ridge height. He confirmed for Members that the proposal’s status as an eco-home could not be given particular weight and informed them that conflicting comments had been received from Historic Buildings Officers in respect of the harm to surrounding heritage assets.

By seven votes to four, the Committee approved the application, subject to the Conditions and Informatives set out in the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development.

(Councillors John Batchelor, Cahn, de Lacey, Fane, Handley, Milnes and Rippeth voted to approve the application. Councillors Heylings, Topping, Heather Williams and Wright voted for refusal.)

1 no. dwelling

Members visited the site on 13 August 2019.

Colin Wilson (objector), Craig Smith (applicant) and Avril Taylor (Arrington Parish Council) addressed the meeting.

There was some concern about scale, bulk and design. However, the majority of Members expressed satisfaction with the application subject to a Condition limiting use of the garage.

By nine votes to two, the Committee approved the application subject to

1.    The Conditions and Informatives referred to in the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development; and

2.    An additional Condition preventing the permitted garage from either being used as, or being converted for use as, a habitable property.

(Councillors John Batchelor, Ellington, Fane, Handley, Heylings, Rippeth, Topping and Wilson voted to approve the application. Councillors Roberts and Heather Williams voted to refuse.)

1 no. dwelling

Members visited the site on 13 August 2019.

Colin Wilson (objector), Mike Briggs (applicant) and Avril Taylor (Arrington Parish Council) addressed the meeting.

There was some concern about the proposal’s prominence, including in terms of the height due to the ground level differences.

On the proposal of Councillor Heather Williams, seconded by Councillor Deborah Roberts, and by nine votes to two, the Committee deferred the application to enable officers to explore with the applicant ways to address Members’ concerns about visual impact, render and flooding.

(Councillors Ellington, Handley, Heylings, Milnes, Rippeth, Roberts, Topping, Heather Williams and Wilson voted for deferral. Councillors John Batchelor and Fane voted against deferral.)

Part Demolition of Existing Buildings and Erection of Four New Buildings to Comprise Holiday Let Accommodation and Conversion and Extension of Existing Buildings to Provide Gym, Office, Garage and Laundry Ancillary to Holiday Let Accommodation

By seven votes to three, the Committee approved the application subject to

1.     The Conditions and Informatives set out in the report from the Joint Director for Planning and Economic Development, amended as follows

(a)  Condition iii

The holiday let units annotated plots 1 to 4 on drawing number 02 Revision B shall only be used for holiday accommodation/bed and breakfast accommodation for a maximum of 28 days in any one stay and shall not be used for permanent residential accommodation

(b)  Condition xiv

Notwithstanding the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015 (or any order revoking and re-enacting that Order with or without modification), no development within Classes A of Part 1 of Schedule 2 of the Order shall take place on all holiday let units unless expressly authorised by planning permission granted by the Local Planning Authority in that behalf.

(c)   Condition xv

…Points A to B from the entrance to No. 17 Mill Lane to the hardstanding at Low Barns Farm has been submitted to…

2.     The final wording of Conditions and Informatives to be determined by officers in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Planning Committee prior to the issue of planning consent.

Councillors John Batchelor, Dr. Cahn, Fane, Handley, Heylings, Milnes and Rippeth voted to approve the application. Councillors Topping, Heather Williams and Wright voted to refuse the application.

Members visited the site on 11 September 2018.

Peter Weatherhead (agent for the objectors) and Councillor Martin Kaszak (Arrington Parish Council) addressed the meeting.

A further representation had been received relating to access for emergency vehicles. The Planning Team Leader (West) referred Members to paragraph 11 of the report. The case officer referred to a letter from the National Farmers Union questioning the health and safety issues arising out of allowing access to the proposed holiday lets through a working farm. The case officer read out a statement from the applicant, who had been unable to attend the meeting in person.

Councillor Heather Williams stated that, when this application had first been considered by Committee on 11 July 2018, she had declared an interest because her husband does seasonal work for the Parish Councillor who was that day representing Arrington Parish Council. As the Parish Council was being represented this time by somebody else, there was no need for Councillor Williams to declare an interest.

The Committee debate focussed on

·        Sustainability and safety of the vehicular access

·        Unsuitability of such a development in this location

·        Increased traffic along the A1198

·        The insufficiency of passing places along the access road

·        The proven demand for such a facility

·        The interest of local business

Councillor Nick Wright proposed that the application be deferred to clarify the appropriateness of the timing of the bat survey carried out. This proposal was seconded and, upon a show of hands, lost by seven votes to three (Councillors Topping, Heather Williams and Wright voted to defer the application, and

Councillors John Batchelor, Dr. Cahn, Fane, Handley, Heylings, Milnes and Rippeth voted against deferral).

By seven votes to three, the Committee approved the application subject to

1.     The Conditions and Informatives set out in the report from the Joint Director for Planning and Economic Development, amended as follows

(a)  Condition iii

The holiday let units annotated plots 1 to 4 on drawing number 02 Revision B shall only be used for holiday accommodation/bed and breakfast accommodation for a maximum of 28 days in any one stay and shall not be used for permanent residential accommodation

(b)  Condition xiv

Notwithstanding the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015 (or any order revoking and re-enacting that Order with or without modification), no development within Classes A of Part 1 of Schedule 2 of the Order shall take place on all holiday let units unless expressly authorised by planning permission granted by the Local Planning Authority in that behalf.

(c)   Condition xv

…Points A to B from the entrance to No. 17 Mill Lane to the hardstanding at Low Barns Farm has been submitted to…

2.     The final wording of Conditions and Informatives to be determined by officers in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Planning Committee prior to the issue of planning consent.

Councillors John Batchelor, Dr. Cahn, Fane, Handley, Heylings, Milnes and Rippeth voted to approve the application. Councillors Topping, Heather Williams and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6

Demolition, Conversion and Development to facilitate Holiday Let Accommodation

Members noted that this application had been withdrawn from the agenda.

Demolition, Conversion and Development to facilitate Holiday Let Accommodation

Members visited the site on 10 July 2018.

Richard Parish (objector), Barry Johnson (applicant) andcllr Angela Pearce (Arrington Parish Council) addressed the meeting. Committee members established that part only of Mill Lane had a hard surface but that space existed to accommodate vehicle passing spaces. The intention was that the lets should be short-term holiday lets only. It was confirmed that the proposed gym and retail facilities would be for the benefit only of those staying in the holiday lets. The applicant confirmed that he would be prepared to pay for the hard surfacing of the whole of Mill Lane, but pointed out this would need consent from the landowner.

Members were informed that some residents of Mill Lane apparently had not been notified about the application.

Following further debate, and by seven votes to three, the Committee gave officers delegated powers to approve the application subject to:

1.     Officers being satisfied with the effectiveness of the public consultation;

2.     The removal of Permitted Development Rights;

3.     The Conditions and Informatives set out in the report from the Joint Director for Planning and Economic Development, with any minor amendments to these being agreed by officers in consultation with the Planning Committee’s Chairman and Vice-Chairman.

Councillors John Batchelor, Cahn, Handley, Hawkins, Heylings, Milnes and Rippeth voted to approve the application. Councillors Roberts, Heather Williams and Wright voted to refuse the application.