Agenda and minutes

To receive any announcements from the chairman and general housekeeping matters.

The chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting, outlined the procedure to be followed and advised on emergency evacuation arrangements.

To adopt and sign as a correct record the Planning Committee minutes of the meeting held on 17 October 2018.

RESOLVED: to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 17 October 2018 as a correct record and agree that the Chairman sign these as such.

To receive any declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests in respect of items on the agenda for this meeting.  

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive notification of any matters which the chairman determines should be considered as urgent business and the special circumstances which have made the matters urgent and to receive any notification of any applications deferred or withdrawn.

There was no urgent business.

There were no proposals for site visits.

To receive any statements from members of the public that have registered to speak on planning applications which are being presented to this committee meeting. 

The list showing members of the public who had registered to speak was tabled at the meeting.

Ancillary highway works to include bank re-profiling and consequential tree/landscape removal along Calvin Thomas Way to deliver the access approved in planning permission P14/S2860/O.

The committee considered application P18/S2617/FUL for ancillary highway works to include bank re-profiling and consequential tree-landscape removal along Calvin Thomas Way on land west of Wallingford (site B) to deliver the access approved for planning permission P14/S2860/O.

Consultations, representations, policy and guidance and the site’s planning history were detailed in the officer’s report which formed part of the agenda pack for this meeting.

Matt Gulliford, Tree Officer for South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils and Jason Sherwood, Locality, Infrastructure and Road Agreements Manager for Oxfordshire County Council were present to answer technical questions.

Adrian Lloyd, a representative of Wallingford Town Council, spoke objecting to the application. 

Ashley Kensington, the applicant’s agent, spoke in support of the application.

Elaine Hornsby, one of the local ward councillors, spoke to the application. 

In response to questions raised by the committee, the officers reported that:

·         Although it would be possible to have low level planting on the central reservation from a highways perspective, there would be a maintenance issue and the potential for disturbance to traffic flow.

·         The tree officer has assessed the application as a whole and although he would have preferred trees to be planted on the central reservation, has accepted the highways technical views. The mitigation elsewhere on site is satisfactory.

·         The requested roundabout proposal would potentially cause more issues regarding traffic flow maintenance and air quality.

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 P18/S2617/FUL, subject to the following conditions:

1.    Commencement two years - implement with P14/S2860/O.

2.    Approved plans.

3.    Tree protection (general).

4.    Landscape implementation.

5.    Landscape maintenance and management plan.

6.    Highway works (implementation as approved).

Erection of 120 residential dwellings with associated parking, open space, play areas (including equipped play space), landscaping and works.

The committee considered application P18/S1853/RM to erect 120 residential dwellings with associated parking, open space, play areas (including equipped play space), landscaping and works on land east of Chalgrove.

Consultations, representations, policy and guidance and the site’s planning history were detailed in the officer’s report which formed part of the agenda pack for this meeting.

Ann Pritchard, a representative of Chalgrove Parish Council, spoke objecting to the application. 

Jacky Nabb spoke objecting to the application. 

Rob Collett, the applicant’s agent, spoke in support of the application.

David Turner, the local ward councillor, spoke objecting 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 P18/S1853/RM, subject to the following conditions:

1.    Development in accordance with approved plans.

2.    No garage conversion into accommodation.

3.    Parking and manoeuvring areas retained.

4.    Roads and footpaths prior to occupation.

Outline application for one detached dwelling house.

The committee considered outline application P18/S2953/O for one detached dwelling house at The Beeches, Woodperry Road, Beckley.

Consultations, representations, policy and guidance and the site’s planning history were detailed in the officer’s report which formed part of the agenda pack for this meeting.

Ginette Camps-Walsh, a representative of Beckley and Stowood Parish Council, spoke in support of the application. 

Ann Cresswell, the applicant’s agent, spoke in support of the application.

John Walsh, the local ward councillor, spoke in support of the application. 

Some committee members were not satisfied that they had sufficient visual evidence to assess the application and were minded to defer the application to allow for a site visit. Other members were of the view that the application did not constitute infill in relation to planning policy and that the protection of the green belt was of primary importance.

A motion, moved and seconded, to defer the application to allow for a site visit was declared lost on being put to the vote.

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 P18/S2953/O, for the following reasons:

1.    The proposal would be inappropriate development in the green belt

which according to the National Planning Policy Framework is, by

definition harmful to the openness of the green belt and substantial

weight has to be given to that harm. No very special circumstances

have been provided with this application which would outweigh this

harm. As such it is not acceptable in principle and is contrary to

advice set out in the Framework.

2.    The Development Plan identifies appropriate locations for new

dwellings in the district. New dwellings within the Green Belt will not

be allowed unless the development falls within strictly defined criteria.

Beckley is one of the villages within the district where the principle of

infill development is acceptable. However, the site lies outside the

village of Beckley in an isolated scatter of development. The site does

not constitute infill development and is therefore considered as

inappropriate development to the detriment of the openness and

visual amenity of the Oxford Green Belt. As such, the proposal is

contrary to policies CSR1 and CSEN2 of the South Oxfordshire Core

Strategy 2027, Policy GB4 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan and the

guidance set out within the National Planning Policy Framework 2018.

3.    The proposed development would be harmful to the rural character

and appearance of the area in conflict with Policy CSEN1 of the South

Oxfordshire Core Strategy, 2012, and saved policies C4, G2 and G4 of

the South Oxfordshire Local Plan, 2011.

Erection of a detached, two storey dwelling with associated parking and landscaping.

The committee considered application P18/S1259/FUL to erect a detached, two-storey dwelling with associated parking and landscaping at 10 Hill Road (The Rectory), Watlington.

Consultations, representations, policy and guidance and the site’s planning history were detailed in the officer’s report which formed part of the agenda pack for this meeting.

Jeremy Flawn, the applicant’s agent, 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 P18/S1259/FUL, subject to the following conditions:

1.    Commencement of development within three years.

2.    Development to be carried out in accordance with the approved plans.

3.    Sample materials (walls and roof) to be agreed prior to their use.

4.    New vehicular access to Oxfordshire County Council specification to be provided prior to first occupation.

5.    Pedestrian vision splays to be provided prior to first occupation.

6.    Vehicular vision splays to be provided in accordance with plan.

7.    Turning area and car parking to be provided prior to first occupation.

8.    No garage conversion into accommodation.

9.    Landscaping scheme to be agreed prior to commencement of development.

10.Tree protection details to be agreed prior to commencement of development.

11.Details of surface water drainage works to be agreed prior to commencement of development.

12.Details of foul drainage works to be agreed prior to commencement of

development.

Informatives:

·         No surface water drainage onto highway.

·         Development is liable for Community Infrastructure Levy.

Retention of Crowsley Park Farmhouse Annexe as an independent residential dwelling and for associated alterations to the building.

The committee considered applications P18/S2377/FUL and P18/S2378/LB for the retention of Crowsley Park Farmhouse Annexe as an independent residential dwelling and for associated alterations to the building at Crowsley Park Farm, Crowsley.

Consultations, representations, policy and guidance and the site’s planning history were detailed in the officer’s report which formed part of the agenda pack for this meeting.

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

John Knox and Jane Chunilal spoke objecting to the application. 

Peter Brampton, the applicant’s agent, spoke in support of the application.

Committee members highlighted concerns that the converted residential dwelling would be harmful to the setting of the Grade II listed building and would have a detrimental impact on the neighbours’ amenity. Members were of the view that the property should remain ancillary.

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

RESOLVED: to refuse planning permission for application P18/S2377/FUL for the following reasons:

1. Due to the close proximity to neighbouring properties, the use of the outbuilding as an independent dwelling would result in increased noise and general disturbance to the detriment of the amenity of the neighbouring occupiers.  As such the proposed development conflicts with the provisions of saved Policies E8, EP2 and D4 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan.

2. The proposed development would result in the physical and functional separation of the outbuilding from the grade II listed, Crowsley Park Farm to form two individual planning units.  This would adversely impact upon the historic integrity and setting of Crowsley Park Farm.  As such the proposed development conflicts with the provisions of Policy CSEN3 of the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy, and saved Policies CON4 and CON5 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan and the guidance and policy set out within the National Planning Policy Framework. 

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

RESOLVED: to grant listed building consent for application P18/S2378/LB, subject to the following condition:

1.    Approved plans (listed building).

Division of existing residence into two separate dwellings.

The committee considered application P18/S2504/FUL to divide the existing residence into two separate dwellings at 15 Hocketts Close, Whitchurch Hill.

Consultations, representations, policy and guidance and the site’s planning history were detailed in the officer’s report which formed part of the agenda pack for this meeting.

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 P18/S2504/FUL, subject to the following conditions:

1.    Development to be in place in accordance with the approved plans.

2.    Withdrawal of permitted development rights to extend the property (Part 1 Class A).

3.    Withdrawal of permitted development rights for outbuildings (Part 1 Class E).

4.    The parking & manoeuvring areas as shown on plan to be retained as

such and not obstructed other than the parking of a private vehicle.

5.    The garage accommodation shall not be converted into living accommodation without first obtaining prior permission from the Local

Planning Authority.