Agenda item

Demolition of existing buildings and erection of three three-bedroom two-storey dwellings with parking and amenity space.

David Bretherton and Kate Gregory, local ward councillors, stood down from the committee for consideration of this item.

The committee considered application P20/S0092/O for the demolition of existing buildings and erection of 3 three-bedroom two-storey dwellings with parking and amenity space at 69 Park Street, Thame,

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. The planning officer reported that the site had an existing planning permission and that the same application had been considered in 2014, 2017 and 2019. The proposal’s relation to the street scene remained unchanged.

Councillor Linda Emery spoke on behalf of Thame Town Council, objecting to  the application.

Jake Collinge, the agent, spoke in support of the application.

Kate Gregory, a local ward councillor, spoke objecting to the application.

In response to questions from the committee, the planning officer confirmed that in the event of refusal, the applicant could merely submit a reserved matters application, making the application extant for another three years. As a general rule, a developer could not be forced by the council to complete a site. Noting that the Thame Town Council had highways safety concerns, supported by one of the local members, he also reported that the Oxfordshire County Council (OCC), as highways authority, had stated that reversing out on to the road was a typical feature of many properties on this stretch of road. In addition, the OCC had been consulted twice on these present proposals and historically had had no objection. Were the committee minded to refuse on highways grounds, the council would be required to obtain reliable supporting expertise. The committee were advised that it had to refer to a material change in circumstances to support a refusal, and a change in committee membership over time was no such justification. Refusal of planning permission by the committee could lead to a serious cost situation for the council at appeal.

A motion, moved and seconded, to refuse outline planning permission failed owing to equal numbers in favour and against.  A motion, moved and seconded, to grant outline planning permission was declared carried on being put to the vote, the Chairman using his casting vote.

RESOLVED: to grant outline planning permission for application P20/S0092/O subject to the following conditions:

1.    That the development to which this permission relates shall be begun not later than whichever is the later of the following dates (a) the expiration of three years from the date of this permission; or (b) the expiration of two years from the final approval of the reserved matters, or in the case of approval on different dates, the final approval of the last such matter to be approved.

2.    In the case of any reserved matter, application for approval must be made not later than the expiration of 3 years beginning with the date of the grant of outline planning permission.

3.    Prior to the first occupation of the development hereby approved, the parking and turning areas shall be provided in accordance with drawing no.01a and shall be constructed, laid out, surfaced, drained and completed to be compliant with sustainable drainage (SuDS) principles, and shall be retained unobstructed except for the parking of vehicles associated with the development at all times.

4.    Prior to the first occupation of the development vision splays measuring 2.0 metres by 2.0 metres shall be provided to each side of the access and the vision splays shall not be obstructed by any object, structure, planting or other material with a height exceeding or growing above 0.6 metres as measured from carriageway level

5.    The development hereby permitted shall not be occupied until foul and surface water drainage works have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

6.    Prior to the commencement of any site works (including demolition or site clearance) an arboricultural method statement shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority