Agenda item

Demolition of Balmaha including outbuilding and swimming pool, erection of 3 pairs of semi-detached villas, erection of a single building containing 5 apartments, associated garaging, parking and bin stores, and driveways using the existing single point of access to Rotherfield Road.

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

Councillor Kate Gregory arrived late to the item and would not take part in the vote.

The committee considered application P19/S1003/FUL for the demolition of Balmaha including outbuilding and swimming pool, erection of three pairs of semi-detached villas, erection of a single building containing five apartments, associated garaging, parking and bin stores, and driveways using the existing single point of access to Rotherfield Road. The proposed development was eleven units in total.

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 correspondence had been received from the applicant with a proposed additional condition on the application. The proposed condition would be for further sustainability features to be agreed upon with officers. The planning officer also explained that the current vegetation at the boundary of the site now afforded better screening compared to what had been observed at the previous site visit and that, there was additional planting proposed within the landscaping scheme.

Councillor Ken Arlett, representing Henley-on-Thames Town Council, spoke against the application.

Hugh Crook, a local resident, spoke objecting to the application

Tim Lincoln, a local resident, spoke objecting to the application.

Douglas Bond, the agent, spoke in support for the application.

Councillor Stefan Gawrysiak, a local ward member, spoke against the application.

A question was asked to clarify the on-site parking and how the clawback policy would work. The planning officer confirmed that in relation to parking, there were twenty-six spaces in total made up of twelve spaces for the semi-detached houses with two additional visitor spaces. There would also be ten spaces for the apartments with two  visitor spaces also included. The planning officer also explained that section 106 agreement had a clawback clause which would re-appraise the development after construction which would analyse the sale value and costs of construction through an open book approach. The planning officer confirmed that the council would receive more funds up to the commuted sum from housing if profit had been higher than expected.

In response to a question from the committee on further explanation on the proposed sustainability conditions from the applicant, the planning officer clarified that the applicant wanted additional sustainability measures beyond minimum standards and had proposed possible measures to achieve this. The planning officer also clarified that this could not be enforceable but that it would not be unreasonable to secure details of where proposed measures would be placed on site. Of the measures proposed, only electric vehicle charging and air-source heat pumps could reasonably be enforced as conditions of a development.

The committee showed concern for the lack of affordable housing and the effect the development has on the appearance and character of the area. There was also concern that the development was large enough (being larger than ten units) that it should have been considered in the Neighbourhood Plan. There was discussion over the road safety with the increase in traffic on the road.

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 P19/S1003/FUL for the following reasons:

1.     A lack of affordable housing on the site of the proposed development.

2.      The effect on the character and appearance of the area.