Agenda item

That planning permission be granted subject to the:-

(a)       inclusion of a ‘Grampian Style’ condition;

(b)       conditions detailed in the report of the Head of Planning; and

(c)        removal of conditions 11 and 12 and the introduction of a new condition 11 as detailed in the late observations.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning in respect of this application which had been the subject of a site visit on 3^rd September 2012.  The usual consultations had been undertaken and the responses received detailed in the report.  Additional comments received since the preparation of the report were circulated at the meeting.  Councillor I. Dunbar, having earlier declared an interest in the application, left the meeting prior to its discussion. 

The officer detailed the background to the report and said that the additional dwelling would not lead to any significant flooding in the area.  The proposed height and distance from other properties were sufficient to not cause any loss of light.  Permitted development rights would be removed so the Authority would have control over future changes to the property to protect local residents.  It was considered that the dwelling would not have a detrimental impact and that Welsh Water had no objections to the scheme. 

Mr. D. Owen spoke against the application saying that as this was a new application it could be dealt with differently. It was an extreme case of tandem development which was contrary to the Unitary Development Plan (UDP).  He spoke of the front door of Graigwen which could not be used in bad weather and the safety issue that this would cause for small children.  He felt that the problems with drainage would be exacerbated by the dwelling and that the development would have a detrimental impact on other residents because of the obtrusive gable ends which he felt should be reduced.  He urged the Committee to refuse the application but added that if they were minded to approve it, that they reduce the size of the dwelling. 

Mr. D. Evans, the applicant, spoke in support of the application.  He said that provision had been made for soakaways which would exclude all rainwater from the drain and said that the driveway was wide enough for emergency vehicles to use if required.  He had endeavoured to meet design guidelines and the application complied with the UDP and with the decision of the Inspector for a single storey dwelling. 

Councillor C.A. Thomas proposed deferment of the application, which was duly seconded.  She was unhappy with the comments of Welsh Water as the local engineer had been called out a number of occasions due to significant problems in the area.  She felt that they were only taking into account that it was a single dwelling and were not considering the problems which were already occurring in the area.  Councillor A.M. Halford supported deferment due to the problems of drainage and the safety of the children in the neighbouring property. 

Councillor R.B. Jones felt that deferment could not be supported as the previous application had been approved.  Councillor Peers asked if it was possible to determine the application but to impose a condition that no work was to commence on the site before the required work was completed by Welsh Water.  Councillor D. Cox asked if an end date had been provided for the completion of the works by Welsh Water.  Councillor R.C. Bithell proposed that a ‘Grampian Style’ condition be imposed. 

The Head of Planning said that he was not certain what a deferment would achieve.  He confirmed that a ‘Grampian Style’ condition could be included and explained that this would require the approval and implementation of a scheme prior to commencement of the development.   

Councillor R.C. Bithell proposed that the application be approved with the inclusion of a ’Grampian Style’ condition, which was duly seconded.  Councillor Thomas said that she had proposed deferment to request a letter from the local water engineer to indicate that the problems had been rectified before the development could commence. 

On being put to the vote, the proposal to defer the application was LOST.  A vote was then taken on Councillor Bithell’s proposal to approve the application with the inclusion of a ‘Grampian Style’ condition and this was CARRIED. 

RESOLVED:

That planning permission be granted subject to the:-

(a)       inclusion of a ‘Grampian Style’ condition;

(b)       conditions detailed in the report of the Head of Planning; and

(c)        removal of conditions 11 and 12 and the introduction of a new condition 11 as detailed in the late observations.