Agenda item

Demolition of house. Construction of five apartments with detached car ports and bin/cycle store.

Councillor Alan Thompson left the meeting before the start of the item.

The committee considered application P21/S33371 for the demolition of house. Construction of five apartments with detached car ports and bin/cycle store.

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 introduced the application, and explained that it had been referred to the committee due to objections from Henley Town Council for reasons identified within section 2.1 of the report. The planning officer also confirmed that the application had been deferred at the previous committee meeting to enable a site visit to take place. The application’s background was then provided, with the context of the site’s history detailed. The planning committee were told that the existing dwelling had been damaged by fire in 2019, and an outline application for two new dwellings had been granted in 2020. The planning officer added that more recently, planning permission had been granted for a new single detached dwelling.

With respect to the application before the committee, the planning officer confirmed that their view was that the principle of the current application was acceptable and would adhere to existing policy. The site’s location on a brownfield site would provide a net gain of four residential units, and met the Henley and Harpsden Neighbourhood Plan’s aim of the intensification of brownfield site development. The committee were told that the site was deemed to have a neutral impact from a wider viewing, and no physical harm had been identified from the proposed application. Additionally, the design was considered similar to the existing dwelling and similar properties within Henley. In relation to the materials used for the application, officers were content that acceptable external materials could be secured by a planning condition.

With reference to trees on-site, confirmation was given to the committee that most trees were protected by a tree protection order, and that no objections had been received from the council’s forestry officer in relation to this. A planning condition however was proposed to require tree protection measures, and for new trees to be planted as a replacement for any existing trees removed.

The committee were then told that the proposed development would be accessed by existing vehicular access, but that the width of the road would be increased with additional required visibility splays. Additionally, there would be ten parking spaces, two visitor spaces, and bicycle storage facilities. This was confirmed to meet local highway authority standards, and no objections had been received from this authority regarding the application. Conditions were also recommended to ensure the provision and retention of any on-site parking.

The planning officer concluded with a recommendation for a condition that was not listed in the report, which would require any external lighting scheme to be submitted to the local planning authority for approval before instillation. Subject to the conditions laid out in the report, and newly proposed, the application was recommended for approval.

Councillor Ken Arlett, representative of Henley Town Council, spoke against the application.

Paul Dickinson, the agent, spoke in support of the application.

The committee asked the speaker for confirmation on tree removal on the site and whether they would retain any. The speaker replied that only those trees impacted by the fire damaged building would be removed. Additionally, the speaker confirmed that whilst at the site visit, the conifer tree had been marked for removal, that tree alongside a number of others were now being retained.

The committee asked the planning officer whether the land was in the neighbourhood plan for development, which the planning officer confirmed it was not. Additionally, in response to a question on light spillage, the planning officer confirmed that there was a planning condition on the application, which would require any external lighting scheme to be approved by the council.

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/S3371/FUL subject to the following conditions:

1.     Development to commence within three years

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

3.     Development to be built with materials as submitted

4.     All external glazing to be coated to prevent illumination and light spill

5.     An organised archaeological watching brief should be maintained on site during construction

6.     Findings of watching brief to be submitted for approval

7.     Development shall be implemented in accordance with all of the ecological mitigation measures stated in supporting Preliminary Ecological Appraisal

8.     A biodiversity enhancement plan (BEP) shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority

9.     Details of surface water drainage works to be submitted for approval

10.  An Arboricultural Method Statement and accompanying Tree Protection Plan shall be submitted for approval

11.  Details of landscaping of the site to be submitted for approval

12.  Existing vehicular access to be improved in accordance with highway standards prior to occupation

13.  Vision splay dimensions measuring 2.4 metres by 43 metres to be put in place prior to occupation

14.  Parking and Manoeuvring Areas provided as approved and thereafter retained

15.  Details of cycle parking to be submitted for approval

16.  No surface water from the development shall be discharged onto the adjoining highway

17.  Any gates provided shall be set back a minimum of 5.0 metres from the edge of the carriageway and shall open inwards into the site

18.  Details of new gate to be submitted for approval

19.  Energy Statement Verification – verification report to demonstrate energy efficiency measures have been implemented

20.  Each dwelling to be provided with an Electric Vehicle Charging Point

21.  External lighting scheme’s to be submitted to the local planning authority for approval before implementation.