Issue - meetings

            That planning permission be granted with delegated authority be given to the Chief Officer (Planning and Environment) to set the required conditions and Section 106 agreement if appropriate.  

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Planning and Environment) in respect of this application which had been the subject of a site visit on 14 December 2015.  The usual consultations had been undertaken and the responses received detailed in the report.

            The officer detailed the background to the report and explained that the application was for a replacement dwelling on the site which was in a countryside setting.  The main issues for consideration were the effect of the proposal upon the character and appearance of the area.  It was felt that the massing of the development would have an increased detrimental impact and therefore the recommendation was for refusal of the application.  The total floorspace was 140 square metres including the extensions and the proposal was for 354 square metres excluding the attached garage and three storey element of the proposal.  This would result in an increase of 153% over the original dwelling.  Application 051526 for the demolition of rear areas of the existing dwelling and erection of a new two storey extension to the side and rear had been granted in March 2014 which amounted to a 121% increase.  An application for the erection of a replacement dwelling had been refused in June 2015.  The officer felt that this application would be out of scale with existing properties in the area and there were no other dwellings of the scale and massing of this proposal. 

            The officer explained that the Local Member, Councillor David Roney, in his consultation response had indicated that the new dwelling was to meet the needs of a disabled person but there had been no mention in the application of a medical need for a design of this scale.  It was felt that there was scope to adapt the property without the scale of development proposed. 

            Mr. R. Gratton, the agent for the applicant, spoke in support of the application.  He said that the proposal would meet the needs of the applicant and the demolition of the dwelling and erection of a new property had been discussed with the planning officer who had indicated that refusal of the application was proposed because it was out of scale and character with the area.  The design was redrafted and following lengthy negotiations, it was felt that the application was deemed to be acceptable.  Mr. Gratton referred to Policy HSG6 and commented that existing permitted development rights had not been removed.  The floor space for the proposed dwelling was very similar to that of the existing property but was a better design for the applicant.           

            The Local Member, Councillor David Roney, proposed approval of the application, against officer recommendation, which was duly seconded.  Following advice from the Housing & Planning Solicitor Councillor Roney and Councillor Mike Peers, as proposer and seconder respectively, agreed to add that delegated powers be granted to the Chief Officer (Planning and Environment) to include appropriate conditions and a Section 106 obligation, if such an obligation was appropriate..    

             Councillor Roney said  ...  view the full minutes text for item 101