Agenda item

Demolition of existing dwelling and construction of three detached dwellings with associated vehicular accesses (as amended to reposition Plot 1 and provide additional tree protection and landscape information 01 and 10 July 2020).

Councillor Sarah Gray did not hear the whole of the planning officer’s presentation, for technical communication reasons, and took no part in the debate or voting for this item.

Councillor Ken Arlett, a local ward councillor, stepped down from the committee and took no part in the debate or voting for this item.

The committee considered application P20/S1588/FUL for the demolition of existing dwelling and construction of three detached dwellings with associated vehicular accesses (as amended to reposition Plot 1 and provide additional tree protection and landscape information 01 and 10 July 2020) at 253 Greys Road, Henley-on-Thames.

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 a site visit was held in respect of this application on Monday 24 August 2020, which five members of the committee attended. The neighbour at number 251 Greys Road was met on this occasion.

The planning officer reported that the principles of the proposal were acceptable and that it was an appropriate fit with the local character of development and the street scene. It would conform well with the present pattern of development. Additionally, Oxfordshire County Council, the highways authority, had no highways safety issues with respect to the development. In the view of planning officers, the development was not harmful to the character and appearance of the area and would not cause material harm to the amenity of neighbours. Also, it would not result in any significant or adverse impacts on the highway network, or on known ecology or important landscape features. 

Mr. Luke Thompson, a local resident, spoke objecting to the application.

Mr. Jon Furneaux, the agent, spoke in support of the application.

Councillor Ken Arlett, a representative of Henley Town Council, spoke objecting to the application. Councillor Arlett later spoke in his capacity as a South Oxfordshire District Councillor, also objecting to the application.

In response to a question from the committee, the planning officer explained the 45 – degree angle rule, which measured the possible impingement, as a result of the development, on light standards on the habitable rooms of the closest neighbouring property

The committee expressed concerns about the density and overbearing nature of the development, the adverse impact upon the street scene, loss of trees and lack of car parking. The committee also considered that the proposal would result in significant harm to 251 Greys Road, particularly through loss of light.

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

RESOLVED: to refuse planning permission for application P20/S1588/FUL for the following reasons:

1.    The proximity and scale of the dwelling proposed on plot 1 of the proposed development would result in an overbearing impact on the neighbouring dwelling, 251 Greys Road, and unduly harm their amenity.

2.    Owing to the density of the proposed development, the width of the individual plots and the relatively small gaps between the proposed dwellings and their respective neighbours, the proposal would result in a cramped form of development which would be out of keeping with the spacious and verdant character and appearance of this part of Greys Road.