Agenda item

Demolition of existing buildings and erection of three three-bedroom two-storey dwellings with parking and amenity space.

The committee considered application P17/S0080/O to demolish the existing buildings and erect three three-bedroom two-storey dwellings with parking and amenity space at 69 Park Street, Thame.

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.

Graeme Markland and Bob Austin, representatives of Thame town council, spoke objecting to the application. Their concerns included the following:

·         Contrary to policy regarding suitable infill developments;

·         There are currently no vacant commercial units in Thame, which is a different situation to when there were seven available at the time of the previous application;

·         Developments recently granted permission in close proximity to the site will need access to shops;

·         Concern for parking and highway safety as cars will need to reverse 90 degrees over the pavement to exit the site; and

·         Request for a vehicle turning point.

Jake Collinge, the applicant’s agent, spoke in support of the application:

·         There is an extant permission for an identical application, for which the same policies applied;

·         The premises could be converted to residential within permitted development rights;

·         It is a highly sustainable location and respects the pattern of the street and conservation area; and

·         There are no highways objections.

David Dodds, one of the local ward councillors, spoke objecting to the application. His concerns included the following:

·         The loss of commercial units; and

·         Concerns for parking and access safety.

The committee considered the application, with advice from officers where appropriate.

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

RESOLVED: to grant planning permission for application P17/S0080/O, subject to the following conditions:

1.    That the development to which this permission relates shall be begun not later than whichever is the later of the following dates (a) the expiration of three years from the date of this permission; or (b) the expiration of two years from the final approval of the reserved matters, or in the case of approval on different dates, the final approval of the last such matter to be approved.

2.    In the case of any reserved matter, application for approval must be made not later than the expiration of three years beginning with the date of the grant of outline planning permission.

3.    Prior to the first occupation of the development, car parking spaces shall be provided within the curtilage of the site so that motor vehicles may enter and park off of the highway. The parking areas shall be constructed, laid out, surfaced, drained and completed in strict accordance with specification details to be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority prior to the commencement of development. The car parking areas shall be retained unobstructed except for the parking and manoeuvring of motor vehicles at all times.

4.    Cycle parking facilities shall be provided prior to the occupation of the development hereby approved, in accordance with details to be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority, prior to the commencement of development.

5.    Unless otherwise agreed by the Local Planning Authority 'LPA', development other than that required to be carried out as part of an approved remediation scheme must not commence until a phased contaminated land investigation has been undertaken in accordance with details agreed in writing with the LPA. Document(s) detailing the works undertaken in each phase must be submitted to and approved by the LPA in writing before any other phase commences, and before occupation of any building. If contamination is found during the course of development that was not previously identified, the development must be halted on that part of the site to the extent specified by the LPA and until the LPA are satisfied that all necessary phases above have been undertaken.

6.    The development hereby permitted shall not be occupied until surface water drainage works have been carried out in accordance with details that have been first submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

7.    The development hereby permitted shall not be occupied until foul drainage works have been carried out in accordance with details that have been first submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

8.    Prior to the commencement of any site works (including demolition or site clearance) an arboricultural method statement shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority to show that any mature trees close to the boundary of the site shall not be harmed by the development hereby approved and that a protected area shall be designated for these trees which shall be protected in accordance with a scheme which complies with the current edition of BS 5837: "Trees in relation to design, demolition and construction" that shall first have been submitted to, and approved in writing by, the Local Planning Authority. The agreed measures shall be kept in place during the entire course of development.