Mr.
Gadsby (objector) addressed the meeting.
Councillor Eileen Wilson (a local Member) highlighted the scarce
amenities in Rampton giving rise to a high dependancy on private
motor vehicles.
Other
Committee members made points based on the following
·
Viability
·
The minimal impact on Listed Buildings and the
Conservation Area
·
Local opinion
·
The South Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2018 and revised
National Planning Policy Framework
The
Delivery Manager (Strategic Sites) read out a statement from
Councillor Neil Gough (the other local Member).
By
eight votes to one, the Committee refused the application for the
following reasons:
1.
Principle of
Development
The full planning application was located
within the Development Framework of Rampton identified by Policy
S/11 of the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2018 as an Infill
Village within the adopted Local Plan. The Policy stated that
residential development would be permitted in the village where
there were two dwellings. If there were to be more than two
dwellings, then they must be of very exceptional
circumstance.
This development by virtue of its poor design,
would create harm to the Rampton Conservation Area where it is
situated, have a poor relationship with the neighbouring properties
and harm their amenity.
Therefore, this was not a development of very
exceptional circumstance and not in conformity with Policy S/11,
S/7 and S/2 of the adopted South
Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2018.
2.
Impact on heritage
assets
This application had been refused due to the
less than significant harm that would be caused to the Rampton
Conservation Area. The dwellings were not reflective of the
character of the Conservation Area, the level of development was
too intense for this site and their design did not reflect the
historic core of the Conservation Area, nor did the dwellings
reflect the previous uses of the site as a farm yard. The
visibility of the buildings from around the site would remove the
current openness which was a unique feature of this yard to such an
extent that would cause harm to the character of the Conservation
Area.
The public benefit stated by the supporting
information was not acceptable as it did not provide sufficient
justification for development within the Conservation Area. The
proposal was not in conformity with Policy NH/14 of the South
Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2018, the National Planning Policy
Framework (NPPF), Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation
Areas) Act 1990 and the Rampton Conservation Area
Appraisal.
3.
Character and Design of the
Development
Policy HQ/1 of the adopted South
Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2018 stated
that development within the district must be reflective of the
character of the area in which it was located, create a legible and
place-responsive design, that created a sense of place and
identity. Parking within the development should be well
integrated.
This application would harm the Conservation
Area as it was not reflective of the character of its surroundings.
It would be visible from important views into the site and mainly
The Green. Within the site the U-shaped development would create a
cul-de-sac which was not a character of the Conservation
Area.
When entering the site, parking being proposed
would be dominant, which could be viewed from outside the
site.
The application was not in accordance with
Policy HQ/1of the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2018 and the
NPPF, both of which required a high standard of development
reflective of the surrounding area.
4.
Residential Amenity
Within Plot 1 bedroom four was smaller than
the requirement in Policy H/12 of the adopted South Cambridgeshire
Local Plan 2018. Plots 3 and 4 did not meet the requirement of
creating a residential garden that was 15 metres from the rear
elevation of the development to the rear common boundary, as stated
in the District Design Guide.
The proposal would therefore cause harm to the
future residents of the site and the amenity of the neighbouring
properties. This application was not in conformity with Policies
HQ/1, H/12 of the adopted South Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2018, the
District Design Guide and the NPPF.
(Councillors John Batchelor, Bradnam. Cahn,
Haswkins, Heylings, Richard Williams,
Wilson and Wright voted to refuse the application. Councillor Fane
voted to approve it. Councillor Roberts did not vote.)