Agenda and minutes

None received.

The minutes of the Planning Committee meeting dated 11^th January 2023 were confirmed and signed by the Chair.

We considered the report of the application and late correspondence which was recommended for approval subject to the conditions outlined in the report.

The local Member for Osbaston had submitted a letter in respect of applications DM/2019/01300 and DM/2021/00182 as identified in late correspondence.  The chair read the letter to the Committee.

Aled Roberts, representing objectors to the proposal, attended the meeting by invitation of the Chair and outlined the following points:

·         Throughout the three-year process there have been numerous legitimate concerns raised. However, during this period there has been no attempt to recognise the concerns or to adapt the proposals. There has been no engagement or consultation from the applicant.

·         For residents of Highfield Close, the key issue is the principle of access. The close is a narrow, substandard road in which two vehicles cannot pass.

·         The proposed two properties are a part of a much larger scheme. The actual scheme is for seven houses to be built off the proposed access. All seven proposed developments have been fully designed but due to phosphates restrictions, five of the proposed developments have not been taken further. They are still indicated on their site plans and a planning consultant has stated that this is a temporary situation.

·         The applicants have placed the development at the top of the field with a view to developing the lower area of the field at some point in the future. There is reference to five properties being allowed off a private drive. Therefore, the impact of development will be exacerbated further. It is considered to be development by stealth.

·         The development will change the character of the close creating a negative impact for neighbours. It was considered that objections to the development, over a number of years, have been ignored.

·         The proposed road impinges upon local residents’ boundaries and will almost turn existing properties into an island.

·         The position of the houses and road, including the ones temporarily ‘switched off’ for the purposes of this application, will cause residents major loss of amenity.

·         The boundary has been shown incorrectly as halfway through an objector’s privet hedge and other neighbours’ boundaries when it is the field fence on the other side.

·         Trees have been shown as being planted on this boundary as a gesture for screening and these are relied upon in terms of the Landscape Officer’s justification. However, it is not possible to plant them on this boundary without trespassing on objectors’ land.  It will be very difficult to maintain due to foliage overhanging onto objectors’ properties. Dealing with this matter as a future condition charge avoids the issue that there is no space to plant the trees.

·         For several years, residents have asked for the proposals to be pushed back up to five metres to provide a suitable landscape buffer and retain existing trees and vegetation along this boundary. This would create a more sympathetic arrangement. However, this has not been undertaken.

·         The replacement dwelling for Woodmancote should be redesigned to keep access off  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

We considered the report of the application and late correspondence which was recommended for approval subject to the conditions outlined in the report with an additional condition to secure the closure of the existing vehicular access off Highfield Road, in accordance with details to be approved by the Local Planning Authority before works commence on site.  The access shall be closed within three months of the date of the approved access being brought into use.

The local Member for Osbaston had submitted a letter in respect of applications DM/2019/01300 and DM/2021/00182 as identified in late correspondence.  The chair had read the letter to the Committee during consideration of application DM/2019/01300.

Aled Roberts, objecting to the proposal, attended the meeting by invitation of the Chair and outlined the following points:

·         Residents of Highfield Close consider that there is a cumulative effect of the dwellings accessing from Highfield Close.

·         Residents consider that Woodmancote has an existing access and that reduces the impact on existing residents and consider that this would be the correct way forward.

·         Residents have not been consulted properly.

·         Issues regarding the boundary were considered to be unfair.

·         Residents consider that this is application is an unnecessary addition to the development and could therefore be redesigned and accessed via the existing way.

The applicant’s agent, John-Rhys Davies, attended the meeting by invitation of the Chair and outlined the following points:

·         The same principles apply as application DM/2019/01300.

·         The application offers a substantial improvement to the quality of the dwelling in highway safety by accessing the site via Highfield Close rather than Highfield Road.

·         The applicant’s agent fully endorses the recommendation to the report.

The Head of Planning informed the Committee that full consultation has been undertaken as part of the statutory requirements and legislation.  Also, the case officer did visit the site and met with residents, which was in addition to usual practice, with a view to attempt to address their concerns.

It was proposed by County Councillor B. Callard and seconded by County Councillor M. Powell that application DM/2021/00182 be approved subject to the conditions outlined in the report with an additional condition to secure the closure of the existing vehicular access off Highfield Road, in accordance with details to be approved by the Local Planning Authority before works commence on site.  The access shall be closed within three months of the date of the approved access being brought into use.

Upon being put to the vote the following votes were recorded:

For approval             -           11

Against approval      -           4

Abstentions               -           0

The proposition was carried.

We resolved that application DM/2021/00182 be approved subject to the conditions outlined in the report with an additional condition to secure the closure of the existing vehicular access off Highfield Road, in accordance with details to be approved by the Local Planning Authority before works commence on site.  The access shall be closed within three months of the date of the approved access being brought into use.

We considered the report of the application and late correspondence which was recommended for approval subject to the conditions outlined in the report and subject to a Section 106 legal agreement.

The Head of Planning informed the Committee that a notification had been received from Welsh Government officials in which Welsh Government has been asked by a third party to consider whether to call in this application for consideration.  Welsh Government officials will have 21 days to establish whether it is of national significance and whether the application should or should not be called in.

The local Member for Magor East with Undy, County Councillor A. Sandles, attended the meeting by invitation of the Chair and outlined the following points:

·         Several residents have concerns regarding the proposed development.  The local Member has visited and spoken with residents regarding this matter.

·         The local Member considers that the number of dwellings on this small site is excessive and is an over development for this area.

·         The plan is for nine homes where only one, two-storey building and some outbuildings stood previously.

·         According to the site plan there are two pinch points. Plot 1 with the public right of way and plot 9 with regard to 14 Bridewell Gardens overlooking and possibly creating problems with surface water draining into the property from the new development.

·         The ridge height of the proposed properties compared to the existing properties in Bridewell indicate a disparity in the heights which will not be aesthetically pleasing.

·         The local Member shares concerns with objectors regarding the width of the proposed roads on the site.  It will be difficult for large vehicles to gain access.  There is also nowhere for vehicles to turn on the site resulting in them having to reverse back to the existing road, which will be hazardous.

·         There is currently a six metre wide public right of way running through the site. It is listed by Welsh Government as an active travel route. The route is used extensively by the general public.

·         The application has reduced the path from six to three metres. The Active Travel Wales Act 2013 requires local authorities to enhance and not reduce the provision for walkers and cyclists.

·         The end 20 metres of the public right of way runs alongside the boundary of plot one.  It is likely that the occupants will erect a two metre high fence alongside their property to prevent overlooking.  Together with a high boundary wall at Camelot, this will likely create a dark tunnel effect and might encourage antisocial behaviour at this location.

·         There is no separation buffer between the public right of way and the road, which is a safety risk for pedestrians.

·         The local Member strongly objects to the proposed development in its current format.

Sandra Lloyd, objecting to the proposal, attended the meeting by invitation of the Chair and outlined the following points:

·         The development site is set in the old village, a semi-rural setting characterised by large spacious properties and gardens and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

We received the Planning Inspectorate report which related to an appeal decision following a site visit that had been held at New House Farm, Llangybi on 8^th December 2022.                    

We noted that the appeal had been dismissed.

We received the Planning Inspectorate report which related to an appeal decision in respect of Grove View, Bully Hole Road, Shirenewton.                                     

We noted that the appeal had been allowed.

We noted the new appeals received by the Planning Department for the period 21^st July to 31^st December 2022.