Agenda item

Reconfiguration of Garden Cottage to provide additional office accommodation; enlargements to provide twenty units of overnight accommodation (net increase of twelve), treatment rooms and staff accommodation (as amended to clarify extent of hardstanding)

Councillor Lorraine Hillier and Councillor Jo Robb, the local ward councillors, stood down from the committee for consideration of this item.

The committee considered application P20/S0782/FUL for the reconfiguration of Garden Cottage to provide additional office accommodation; enlargements to provide twenty units of overnight accommodation (net increase of twelve), treatment rooms and staff accommodation (as amended to clarify extent of hardstanding) at Garden Cottage Badgemore Park, Gravel Hill, Henley-On-Thames.

The planning officer reported that the Rotherfield Greys Parish Council had objected to the proposal, considering that it represented a ‘gross overdevelopment’ of the site. In the view of the council’s planning and economic development officers, the proposed development would provide additional visitor accommodation to the benefit of the local economy and would broadly be in accordance with the relevant development plan policies and national planning policy.  Subject to conditions, the proposal would be in keeping with the character and appearance of the site and surrounding area, would conserve the landscape and scenic beauty of the Chilterns AONB, and would not materially harm the amenity of neighbouring occupiers or be prejudicial to highway safety.

Simon Sharp, the agent spoke in support of the application. In addition, the democratic services officer had sent Simon Sharp’s statement to the committee prior to the meeting.

The committee considered that the proposal was well-contained and did not represent overdevelopment.  It took the view that the proposed development would support rural business, to the benefit of the community. The committee noted that the impact upon the Chiltern area of outstanding natural beauty would be limited; the Chilterns Conservation Board at paragraph 2.1 of the report were quoted as stating that, ‘the impact on the special qualities of the AONB are relatively modest’.

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 P20/S0782/FUL subject to the following conditions:

1.         Commencement of development within three years.

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

3.         Schedule of materials to be agreed prior to the commencement of development.

4.         Tree protection details to be agreed prior to the commencement of development.

5.         Hard and soft landscaping scheme to be agreed prior to the commencement of development.

6.         Surface water drainage details to be agreed prior to the commencement of development.

7.         A biodiversity enhancement scheme shall be agreed prior to the commencement of development.

8.         A construction traffic management plan to be agreed prior to the commencement of development.

9.         External lighting details to be agreed prior to installation.

10.       Parking and turning area to be provided and retained in accordance with the approved plans.

11.       Travel Plan to be agreed prior to occupation of development.

12.       Cycle parking to be provided in accordance with details to be agreed prior to occupation of the development.

13.       Staff accommodation in Block B to be used only in connection with staff employed at the site.

14.       Rooflights in west elevation of Block E to be 1.7m above internal floor level or obscure glazed and fixed shut.