Agenda item

We considered the application and late correspondence, which was recommended for approval subject to the eight conditions, and also subject to a Section 106 Agreement for a financial contribution to be used towards the provision of affordable housing in the local area, as outlined in the report.

Ms. R. Collett, objecting to the application, attended the meeting by invitation of the Chair and outlined the following points:

·         This is a high level summary of the very detailed objections by 11 residents of Monmouthshire.

·         This application deals with the environs of a grade II* listed church and the associated important public right of way between a green open space / playing fields and the grade II* listed church.

·         A grade II* listed church forms part of the top 8% of listed buildings in the Country.  This site is significant historically, culturally and as a village amenity.

·         The reason for listing is integrally linked to the manor farm complex and environs.  Details as follows:

-       Part of a complex comprising of the farmhouse, farmyard and farm buildings of Manor House Farm and St Mary's church and churchyard. Group value with neighbouring listed items at Manor House Farm.

·         Overall multiple planning application and proposals including the sub division of existing houses at this Manor Farm complex make for a considerably more sprawling and densely urbanised area than is warranted for this semi-rural setting.

·         There are now five dwellings on the site. The proposed bungalows will increase this to seven dwellings, and the conversion of the second barn leading to potentially several more dwellings. This is approaching 9 / 10 residences and in the original LDP deposit plan the planning team turned down this site as being unsuitable for this number of houses.

·         In respect of the National Planning Policy Framework the objector has concerns under chapters 7 and 12 over: density, landscape and making places look better for people who live in Rogiet and frequent the right of way. The density of the proposal requires considerable parking provision.  For example, assuming there are 10 dwellings, it is estimated that provisioning for 30 cars will be necessary.   This will inevitably destroy green space and detract from the setting of the listed buildings. Accordingly, reduced housing density from the current proposal seems appropriate.

·         The associated vehicular deliveries / waste bins / washing lines etc, the basics of human habitation in such a densely packed, low privacy application will be extremely visible to users of the public right of way between the Church and green open space / playing fields and will detract from residents’ enjoyment of these village amenities.

·         The objectors believe phase 2 of this development will set a very poor precedent for phase 3.

·         The planning and conservation approach on this site has been referred to the County Council’s Scrutiny Manager and have written to Cadw directly. 

·         The recommendation of residents is that the application is either refused or deferred until matters of process and further consultation by residents directly with Cadw is completed.

The applicant, Mr. N. Park, attended the meeting by invitation of the Chair and outlined the following points:

·         The applicant’s family owns the site and are looking to make it a more suitable site than currently exists.

·         The site is currently inappropriate.

·         The buildings are listed and the applicant would like to look after them through this development.

·         Approval of the application will ensure that the site will be more suited as a long term residential site.

Having considered that report of the application and the views expressed, some Members considered that the proposed bungalows, in terms of fitting in with the holiday cottages that have been converted on the site, it was considered that there were no grounds on which the application should be refused.

One Member considered that the design was bold and appropriate for 21st Century living.

However, some Members considered that it was a very good site and there were no issues in erecting two bungalows at this location but the design could be better than proposed.

It was therefore proposed that application DC/2016/00921 be approved subject to the eight conditions, and also subject to a Section 106 Agreement for a financial contribution to be used towards the provision of affordable housing in the local area, as outlined in the report.

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

For approval              -           8

Against approval      -           2

Abstentions               -           1

The proposition was carried.

We resolved that application DC/2016/00921 be approved subject to the eight conditions, and also subject to a Section 106 Agreement for a financial contribution to be used towards the provision of affordable housing in the local area, as outlined in the report.