Agenda item

We considered the report of the application and late correspondence which was

recommended for approval subject to the 14 conditions, as outlined in the report and subject to a Section 106 legal agreement.

The local Member for Shirenewton, also a Planning Committee Member, outlined the following points:

·         The affordable housing provision now has the parking spaces in the correct location for the plots.

·         Highways concerns include the access.  As local traffic parks in this area, it was suggested that the implementation of a Section 278 agreement at this location might alleviate the parking issues.

·         The access is owned by the applicant.  However, two nearby houses have a right of access over it.  The previous extant permission did have a similar access to required standards. As the applicant owned the access, perhaps the same could apply to this access.

·         It was noted that some of the plots fall outside of the boundary areas.  A condition could be considered to remove permitted development rights in relation to the garden area of these plots.

·         With regard to the quality of materials, these need to be of a high standard. This matter will be considered at the reserved matters stage.

·         The height of the dwellings needs to be addressed at the reserved matters stage, as the heights need to be reviewed in view of the distance between an existing property and plot 6 being only 13 metres.

Having considered the report of the application and the views expressed by the local Member, the following points were noted:

·         This is an outline application. However, the Planning Authority is able to look at the scale of development and the design and location of windows at the reserved matters stage. The scale parameters proposed in the application would be not set and the scale could be looked at.

·         The quality of materials will be considered at the reserved matters stage and the applicant could be asked to submit that as part of that application.

·         A condition to remove the permitted development rights could be added to the plots outside of the allocation for outbuildings.

·         In terms of the existing access point and the realignment of the roads, it was noted that the access does not meet the exact standard of the Highways Department but in terms of delivering the market and affordable housing provision, it is considered that the existing access, although substandard, is acceptable to take the additional properties.

·         The height parameters will be fixed and approved as part of this application.  However, with regard to plot 6, potentially being a taller or shorter property in relation to the surrounding area, this will be considered at the reserved matters stage.

·         With regard to controlling parking within the area, off the public highway, any vehicle parked at this location falls outside of the local Authority’s control, should any illicit parking take place in this area.

·         With regard to concerns expressed in respect of the height of some of the proposed properties, a condition could be added in submitting the reserved matters for the actual detail of the site, pursuant to that application, site sections be established which would indicate the section with the nearby existing properties which would provide an understanding of the relationship and visual aspect of the heights of those properties given the land levels and proximity.

·         There are no plans to upgrade the private road to an adoptable standard due to restrictive covenants existing on this land.

·         This is an outline planning application establishing the principle of whether the properties, the Section 106 agreement and access are acceptable.

·         Plots 4 – 7 and plots 8 - 11 would be up to 8.9 metres to the ridge.

The local Members summed up, as follows:

·         The local Member would like the parameters to be between 5 metres and eight metres.

·         There are positives in respect of this site in terms of the affordable housing provision, the applicant has amended the site and improved the parking provision.

·         On the whole, it is a reasonable site.

It was proposed by County Councillor L. Brown and seconded by County Councillor G. Howard that application DM/2018/02066 be approved subject to the 14 conditions, as outlined in the report and subject to a Section 106 legal agreement. Also, that the following additional conditions be added:

·         Remove permitted development rights for outbuildings in the gardens of plots 4, 5 and 6.

·         Require sections through the site to demonstrate the relationship of the proposal to the existing dwellings to the north of the site, which are opposite the site.

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

For approval              -           12

Against approval      -           0

Abstentions               -           0

The proposition was carried.

We resolved that application DM/2018/02066 be approved subject to the 14 conditions, as outlined in the report and subject to a Section 106 legal agreement. Also, that the following additional conditions be added:

• Remove permitted development rights for outbuildings in the gardens of plots 4, 5 and 6.

• Require sections through the site to demonstrate the relationship of the proposal to the existing dwellings to the north of the site, which are opposite the site.