Agenda and minutes

To adopt and sign as a correct record the minutes of the committee meeting held on 1 July 2015.

RESOLVED: to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 1 July 2015 as a correct record and agree that the Chairman sign these as such.

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Demolition of existing buildings and construction of 1 and 2 storey buildings for retailing units including:

·         Retail units (flexible A1 / A3 use).

·         Restaurants (A3 use).

·         Gym (D2 use).

·         All the above with associated servicing areas.

·         Replacement public toilets.

·         New public realm.

·         Improvements to existing public realm.

·         Landscaping.

·         Realignment of drainage channel.

·         Amending existing car park layout.

·         Additional car, cycle and motorcycle parking.

·         Relocated bus route and the closure of High Street to allow for retail development.

The committee considered application P15/S0433/FUL to demolish the existing buildings and construct one and two storey buildings for retailing; restaurants; gym; associated landscaping and infrastructure; the relocation of the bus route; and the closure of High Street to allow for retail development at the Orchard Shopping Centre, Didcot.

The officer presented her report and addendum to the committee. The addendum report included updates on consultation comments, parking and residents’ survey. The officer advised that she had spoken to Thames Valley Police Crime Prevention advisor since writing the addendum report.  They advised that the internal details of the corridor serving the public toilets should be amended as opposed to the installation of CCTV.  Therefore the officer recommended that the proposed CCTV condition was replaced.  Two further conditions were recommended by the Officer which included revised details for the stairwell from the Station Road Car Park to street level and restricted access details for the rear of Marks & Spencer’s so that the public cannot access the service and rear door area of this building. 

Charlie Robertson, a representative of Didcot Town Council, spoke in support of the application. His speech included the following:

·         Concerns for the safety of residents with the opening up of Station Road to bus traffic;

·         Drawing attention to a petition regarding the above;

·         On a broader scale, the proposal will serve residents well in the future; and

·         Full support of Didcot Town Council.

County Councillor Nick Hards, Mark Beddow, Allan Ridgeley, Penny Dakin Kiley and County Councillor Patrick Greene, spoke objecting to the application. Their concerns included the following:

·         Bus traffic on Station Road;

·         Inadequate parking;

·         Safeguarding land for road improvement (Hitchcock Way);

·         The proposal will negate the success of creating a social hub around the Cornerstone;

·         Air quality; and

·         A petition has been signed by 1200 people.

Russell Beresford and Ben Wrighton, the applicant’s agents, spoke in support of the application. Their speeches included the following:

·         A change in the market has led to the current proposed development;

·         Securing an anchor has not been possible, however Marks and Spencer Simply Food has set a benchmark for other investors;

·         It is in Hammerson’s interests that the development is a success and that parking is sufficient;

·         Their aim is to provide a range of retailers, catering and high quality public space in a modern and contemporary environment;

·         They can start on site in 2015;

·         There was a need to rearrange the infrastructure;

·         They have been negotiating with the bus operators and Council for over a year; and

·         Public consultation informed the proposed scheme to open up Station Road to bus traffic, which has been found to be the best solution.

Ward Councillors Margaret Davies and Anthony Nash spoke in objection to the application. Their concerns included the following:

·         Didcot Town Council objected twice, as the minutes show;

·         The original form of a mixed scheme extending eastwards to the  Jubilee roundabout has been condensed due to ownership issues;

·         Oxfordshire County Council maintain an objection to the level  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40.

Demolition of existing outbuildings. Erection of a detached dwelling with detached double garage.

The committee considered application P15/S1795/FUL to demolish the existing outbuildings and erect a detached dwelling with detached double garage at 1 Mill Lane, Chalgrove.

Martyn Lynham and Doctor Whitlow, two local residents, spoke objecting to the application.

John Hornsby, the applicant, spoke in support of the application.

David Turner, the local ward councillor, spoke in objection to the application.

A motion, moved and seconded, to approve the application was declared carried on being put to the vote.

RESOLVED: to grant planning permission for application P15/S1795/FUL at 1 Mill Lane, Chalgrove, subject to the following conditions:

1.    Commencement three years - full planning permission.

2.    Approved plans.

3.    Parking area to be Sustainable Drainage System (SUDS) compliant.

4.    Turning area and car parking.

5.    No surface water drainage to highway.

6.    No garage conversion into accommodation.

7.    Surface water drainage works (details required).

Erection of a three bedroom dwelling house, garage and associated landscape works adjacent to the applicants existing property.

The committee considered application P15/S0707/FUL to erect a three bedroom dwelling, garage and associated landscape works adjacent to the applicant’s existing property at Bassimer, 37 Church Road, Sandford-on-Thames.

Thomas Fox, the applicant, spoke in support of the application.

A motion, moved and seconded, to approve the application was declared carried on being put to the vote.

RESOLVED: to grant planning permission for application P15/S0707/FUL at Bassimer, 37 Church Road, Sandford-on-Thames, subject to the following conditions:

1.    Commencement three years - full planning permission.

2.    Approved plans.

3.    Sample materials required (walls and roof).

4.    Existing vehicular access.

5.    Turning area and car parking.

6.    No surface water drainage to highway.

7.    No garage conversion into accommodation.

8.    Archaeological watching brief.

9.    Archaeology.

10.Tree protection (general).

Demolition of existing property and construction of a new four bedroom house.

The committee considered application P15/S1375/FUL to demolish the existing property and construct a new four bedroom house at The Briars, 18 Heathfield Avenue, Binfield Heath.

Officer update: an extra condition has been proposed to remove permitted development rights; and despite Binfield Heath Parish Council maintaining their objection, they have now officially expressed “no strong views”.

Simon Mack and Louise Morton, the applicant’s agents, spoke in support of the application.

A motion, moved and seconded, to approve the application was declared carried on being put to the vote.

RESOLVED: to grant planning permission for application P15/S1375/FUL at The Briars, 18 Heathfield Avenue, Binfield Heath, RG9 4ED, subject to the following conditions:

1.    Commencement three years - full planning permission.

2.    Development to be as shown on approved plans.

3.    Sample materials to be approved.

4.    Parking to be provided as on plan.

5.    Existing access to be closed prior to occupation.

6.    Home office to be ancillary to residential use of the site.

7.    Rear window to bedrom four to be obscure glazed up to 1.7m.

8.    Recess to bedroom two window to be retained.

9.    Removal of permitted development rights.

Informative about bats.

Informative about footpaths.

Proposed part two storey and part single storey side extension and a single storey rear extension.

The committee considered application P15/S0529/HH to erect a part two storey and part single storey side extension and a single storey rear extension at 1 Holmwood Farmhouse, Shiplake Row, Binfield Heath.

Lis Ransom, a representative of Binfield Heath Parish Council, spoke objecting to the application.

Fiona McReady and Michael Mylonas, spoke objecting to the application.

Nicola Taplin and Mr Dodson, the applicant’s agent and applicant, spoke in support of the application.

Contrary to the officer’s recommendation to approve the application, the committee did not agree that the proposal would not detract from the character of the original property by virtue of its scale and design.

A motion, moved and seconded to refuse the application, was declared carried on being put to the vote.

RESOLVED: to refuse planning permission for application P15/S0529/HH at 1 Holmwood Farmhouse, Shiplake Row, Binfield Heath, for the following reasons:

That, having regard to the size, scale and wrap around nature of the proposed extension and to its relationship with the principal elevation of the building, the proposal represents an inappropriate form of development which would overwhelm and be out of keeping with the small scale character and form of the existing building. As such the proposal would detract from the character of the existing building and the visual amenity of the area contrary to policy CSQ3 of the adopted South Oxfordshire Core Strategy, saved policies G2 and H13 of the adopted South Oxfordshire Local Plan and to advice in the South Oxfordshire Design Guide.