Agenda item

P16/S2646/FUL - 2 Baskerville Road, Sonning Common

Erection of detached two-storey 4-bedroom dwelling with integral garage and formation of vehicular access.

Minutes:

The committee considered application P16/S2646/FUL to erect a detached two-storey 4-bedroom dwelling with integral garage and formation of vehicular access at 2 Baskerville Road, Sonning Common.

 

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.

 

Carole Lewis, a representative of Sonning Common parish council, spoke objecting to the application. Her concerns included the following:

·         This site is not allocated in the Sonning Common neighbourhood plan, which was formally adopted in October;

·         The size, height, density and mass would result in an overdevelopment of the site;

·         The proposed development would be harmful to the amenity of the neighbours;

·         The planning inspector who approved the neighbourhood plan warned of inappropriate backland development; and

·         Parking and traffic concerns due to the site being close to a busy crossroads.

 

Helen Gavin and Ros Varnes, local residents, spoke objecting to the application. Their concerns included the following:

·         The road is rural, not suburban as per the officer’s report;

·         The frontage of the proposed development would be a lot smaller in relation to surrounding properties;

·         The design does not fit in with the street scene;

·         The proposal will adversely impact the privacy of the neighbours;

·         Would like to seek assurances that the back to back distances within the report are correct;

·         Traffic generation and parking would have a harmful impact on pedestrian and highway safety; and

·         There is no suitable parking for delivery vehicles.

 

Paul Harrison, one of the local ward members, spoke objecting to the application. His concerns included the following:

·         The proposed development is too bulky and out of character;

·         It is an overdevelopment of the site;

·         Only two parking spaces for a four-bedroom house is insufficient; and

·         It is close to a junction and would therefore compromise road safety.

 

The committee considered the application, with advice from officers where appropriate. Although advised that the Sonning Common neighbourhood plan allowed for infill development, the committee were concerned with the size and scale of the proposed dwelling not being in keeping with the street scene and the impact on the neighbours’ amenity.

 

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

 

RESOLVED: to refuse planning permission for application P16/S2646/FUL due to the following reasons:

 

1.    Due to the scale, bulk, height and design the proposal represents a development that is considered to be out of keeping with the character and appearance of the surrounding area and therefore contrary to policy CSQ3 of the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy, the saved policies G2, H4 and D1 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2011 and policies H3, D1, D1a and D1b of the Sonning Common Neighbourhood Development Plan.

 

2.    Due to its position within the plot the proposal would be overbearing and an unneighbourly form of development that is contrary to policy the saved policies H4 and D1 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2011 and policy H3 of the Sonning Common Neighbourhood Development Plan.

 

 

Supporting documents:

 

Contact us - Democratic services

Phone icon

01235 422520
(Text phone users add 18001 before dialing)

Address icon

South Oxfordshire District Council
Abbey House, Abbey Close,
Abingdon
OX14 3JE