Agenda item

Conversion of former Chinese takeaway into 2 self contained one bedroom flats.

Toby Newman, the local ward councillor, stepped down from the committee and took no part in the debate or voting for this item. Sue Lawson acted as chair.

The committee considered application P17/S1336/FUL for the conversion of the former Chinese takeaway into 2 self contained one bedroom flats at 79 High Street, Wheatley.

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. The planning officer reported that, since the publication of the agenda, the conservation officer had commented that he had no objection to this application, subject to conditions.

Roger Bell, a representative of Wheatley Parish Council, spoke objecting to the application. His concerns included the following:

·         The proposal would have a detrimental impact on a vital shopping centre;

·         The proposed development would exacerbate existing parking problems in the locality; and

·         The proposal did not meet the council’s standards for private amenity areas.

Toby Newman, the local ward councillor, spoke objecting to the application. His concerns included the following:

·         The proposal would constitute the loss of one of the few remaining commercial properties in the village; and

·         The proposal would exacerbate existing parking problems.

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

The committee did not agree that the development would be car free and believed that occupiers of the properties would realistically own at least one car each. Members were also concerned that the loss of commercial premises would contribute to the gradual decline of the economic vitality of the village centre.

Contrary to the officer recommendation, a motion moved and seconded to refuse planning permission was declared carried on being put to the vote.

RESOLVED: to refuse planning permission for application P17/S1336/FUL for the following reasons:

1.  The proposed development would result in the loss of a retail unit in the Wheatley village centre which would undermine the vitality of the business centre and result in a progressive weakening of its role in supporting surrounding smaller villages. This would be contrary to the philosophy of the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy 2027 and saved policy E6 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2011.

2.     The proposal would result in a cramped form of residential development with front windows immediately adjacent to the pavement and parked cars and with substandard rear gardens providing little privacy. This would result in a poor quality living environment detrimental to the residential amenity of occupants contrary to saved policies D3 and D4 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan and Design Guide advice.

3.     The proposed development has no allocated parking. Parking is limited in the village centre and the existing shops and other commercial outlets rely on the available on-road parking for their customers. The development is likely to result in a demand for parking of potentially 4 cars resulting in an overall reduction in the amount of parking available for commercial uses which will undermine the economic vitality of the village centre. The lack of available parking for the dwellings is also likely to lead to inappropriate parking by residents in restricted areas contrary to saved policies D2, and T2 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2011.