Agenda and draft minutes

Venue: A virtual meeting

Contact: Paul Bateman  Email:  paul.bateman@southandvale.gov.uk

Note: You can watch this meeting via this weblink: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTj2pCic8vzucpzIaSWE3UQ 

Items
No. Item

137.

Chair's announcements

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

Minutes:

The chair welcomed everyone to the meeting, and outlined the procedure to be followed in a virtual meeting.

138.

Minutes of the previous meeting pdf icon PDF 112 KB

To adopt and sign as a correct record the Planning Committee minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 23 February 2021. 

Minutes:

RESOLVED: to approve the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 23 February 2021 as a correct record and agree that the Chairman sign these as such.

 

139.

Declarations of interest

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

Minutes:

With respect to item 8 on the agenda, Mulberry Barn, Church Lane, Rotherfield Peppard (P20/S4809/HH), Councillor Robb declared that several years ago she had spent two nights in bed and breakfast accommodation at the premises but considered that this did not preclude her from participating in the consideration of this item.

140.

Urgent business

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circumstances which have made the matters urgent and to receive any notification of any applications deferred or withdrawn.

Minutes:

There was no urgent business.

141.

Proposals for site visits

Minutes:

There were no proposals for site visits.

142.

Public participation

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. 

Minutes:

The list showing members of the public who had registered to speak had been sent to the committee prior to the meeting. Statements received from the public were circulated to the committee prior to the meeting.

143.

P20/S4809/HH - Mulberry Barn, Church Lane, Rotherfield Peppard pdf icon PDF 499 KB

Extension and remodelling with associated landscaping.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The committee considered application P20/S4809/HH for an extension and remodelling with associated landscaping, at Mulberry Barn, Church Lane, Rotherfield Peppard.

 

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 the meeting.

 

The planning officer reported that the application sought planning permission for an extension and remodelling of the existing building.  The building had been previously ancillary to Slaters Farm but had since been granted planning permission to be converted into a separate, self-contained, dwelling house. No technical objections to the proposal had been received. In the view of the planning officers, the proposed development was not considered to represent any adverse impact upon the site or the surrounding area. It would conserve the appearance of his part of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Conservation Area.  Additionally, the proposed development would not result in any adverse impact on the amenity of neighbours, would preserve landscape features and would not harm any protected species.  Subject to the recommended conditions, officers considered that planning permission should be granted.

 

Councillor Sue Rowland, a representative of Rotherfield Peppard Parish Council, spoke objecting to the application.

 

In response to a question regarding bats (which had been mentioned in the parish council’s representation and referenced in the planning officer’s report), Councillor Rowland responded that her council’s principal concern was that the increase in light caused by the development would be harmful to these animals.  In response to a question regarding the parish council’s concerns regarding traffic generation, Councillor Rowland clarified that in that council’s view, the proposal would create safety issues in Church Lane, opposite a primary school.

 

Ms. Sarah Flindall, a local resident of Church Lane, spoke objecting to the application. The democratic services officer had sent to the committee, prior to the meeting, Ms. Flindall’s statement.

 

Mr. Paul Davies, a local resident of Church Lane, spoke objecting to the application.

 

Mr. David Colin, the applicant, spoke in support of the application. The democratic services officer had sent to the committee, prior to the meeting, Mr. Colin’s statement

 

The democratic services officer had sent to the committee, prior to the meeting, a statement by Ms. Hilary Roberts, a local resident of Cowslip House (also known as Talbotts), a neighbouring property.

 

The democratic services officer had sent to the committee prior to the meeting a statement by Miriam Armstrong, a local resident of Little Acres, a neighbouring property.

 

The committee noted that the Oxfordshire County Council, the highway authority, had made an assessment regarding car parking needs in respect of the proposal, but had not submitted a highways safety report. It considered that a fully informed decision on the application could not be possible without this information. The committee was also concerned about the unclear information regarding the ridge height of the proposed development, owing to an apparent miscalculation by the developer.  Additionally, the committee noted concerns regarding overdevelopment in the conservation area and the area  ...  view the full minutes text for item 143.

144.

P21/S0414/HH - 5 Lydalls Close, Didcot pdf icon PDF 279 KB

Single and two storey extensions to existing bungalow.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Ken Arlett left the meeting prior to the conclusion of this item and therefore did not participate in the vote on this application.

 

The committee considered application P21/S0414/HH for single and two storey extensions to existing bungalow at 5 Lydalls Close, Didcot.

 

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 the meeting.

 

The planning officer reported that the report recommended refusal, as it was considered that the proposed side extension, particularly by reason of its footprint and overall height, would dominate, and be out of keeping with the modest character of the existing bungalow, detracting from the visual amenities of the street scene.  The applicant had revised the footprint and eaves of the side extension, the proposed eaves now being level with the existing property.  However, these modifications did not address the reasons for refusal in the view of the planning officer.

 

Gemma Willis, the applicant, spoke in support of the application. The democratic services officer had sent to the committee, prior to the meeting, Ms. Willis’s statement.

 

The democratic services officer read to the committee the statement of Councillor Alan Thompson, a local ward councillor, which supported the application.

 

The committee considered that, taking into account all the factors considered in the report and discussed in the meeting, the proposal did not seem out of character, or be harmful neighbours’ amenity. In addition, it was supported by a local ward member and Didcot Town Council had no objections. The committee concluded that these reasons were sufficiently compelling to overturn the officers’ recommendation and to grant planning permission. The senior planning officer advised the committee on the reasons for granting planning permission, including the standard conditions which would be applied in the event of permission being granted, such as approved plans, materials compliant with design standards and sufficient surface drainage measures.

 

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

 

RESOLVED: to grant planning permission for application P21/S0414/HH for the following reasons;

 

1.    The proposal is not out of character with the local area;

2.    The proposal does not represent harm to the amenity of neighbouring properties;

3.    Materials to be used in construction would be of good quality and in sympathy with the local vernacular.

 

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