Agenda item

P16/S2623/FUL - White Lodge, Normanstead, Henley-on-Thames

Variation of condition 10 of planning permission P15/S1166/FUL, to revise the landscaping proposal.

Minutes:

Joan Bland and Lorraine Hillier, two of the local ward councillors, stepped down from the committee for the consideration of this item and took no part in the debate or voting.

 

The committee considered application P16/S2623/FUL to vary condition 10 of planning permission P15/S1166/FUL, to revise the landscaping proposal at White Lodge, Normanstead, 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.

 

Stefan Gawrysiak, a representative of Henley town council, spoke objecting to the application. His concerns included the following:

·         The town council have unanimously voted against this application four times;

·         Bamboo is not indigenous and will be very thin and inadequate for screening purposes; and

·         The developer had agreed to plant an extra row of Quercus Ilex Oak trees but withdrew this in favour of the bamboo, which would have kept all parties happy.

 

Phyllis Vincent, a local resident, spoke objecting to the application. Her concerns included the following:

·         Unhappy with the light illuminations at night which can now be seen from her property; and

·         Another 13 Quercus Oak would need to be planted to create an instant dense screen according to Paramount Plants.

 

Robert Edwards, the applicant, spoken in support of the application:

·         Prior to the removal of the hedge, the applicant consulted the neighbours, who welcomed the proposed planting of pleached trees to increase light and give adequate screening;

·         The applicant apologised in failing to advise the change in species of tree being planted prior to removing the conifer hedge and also in failing to notify the planning team in removing the hedge;

·         The bamboo will act as a ‘nurse-maid’ until the hedge has filled out and will give adequate screening in the meantime;

·         The applicant did not agree to planting an extra row of Quercus Oak, as per the town council’s suggestion;

·         Paramount Plants did not supply the trees; and

·         The distance between the trees was recommended by the landscape architect.

 

Lorraine Hillier, one of the local ward councillors, spoke objecting to the application:

·         The original condition to permanent retention of the trees during construction was required to safeguard the neighbour’ amenity and the trees themselves; and

·         Ignoring the qualifying conditions disregards the work of the officers and makes a mockery of the original decision.

 

Joan Bland, one of the local ward councillors, spoke objecting to the application:

·         Bamboo is not indigenous and will grow out of control if not looked after; and

·         This shows a disregard for planning conditions.

 

The committee considered the application, with advice from officers where appropriate. The committee were not satisfied with the planting proposal; the screening was not like for like with that which has been removed and is now inadequate and inappropriate, causing overlooking and a loss of privacy.

 

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/S2623/FUL for the following reason:

 

The species and density of planting proposed under the variation of condition application would provide a significantly lower level of screening than the previous boundary hedging. As such, the council considers that the replacement boundary planting scheme represents an inadequate and inappropriate alternative, resulting in overlooking and a material loss of privacy with respect to the neighbouring properties. The proposal would not meet the requirements of the original planning condition and the application is contrary to Policies H4 and D4 of the Local Plan 2011 and advice within the South Oxfordshire Design Guide

Supporting documents:

 

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