Agenda item

Erection of dwelling (amended scheme pursuant to extant consent P20/S0912/FUL). As clarified by site survey submitted on 15 September 2021.

The committee considered application P21/3669/FUL for the erection of a dwelling (amended scheme pursuant to extant consent P20/S0912/FUL), as clarified by site survey submitted on 15 September 2021, on land opposite Whitecross House, Winterbrook

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 reported that planning permission had been granted for a single dwelling on this site earlier in 2021. This permission remained extant and therefore the principle of erecting a single dwelling on this site had been established. The application had not attracted any neighbour objections.

An arboricultural report had been submitted with the application, which demonstrated that the proposed development did not require the pruning or removal of any trees which were protected by a tree preservation order. The council’s forestry officer had no objection to the proposal and had commented that the current layout was an improvement when compared to the extant scheme from an arboricultural perspective, as the proposed dwelling was located further from the protected trees. Tree protection and landscape conditions were recommended to the committee. Since the grant of planning permission, some trees had been removed from the site. The forestry officer had visited the site and the countryside officer had no objection to the removal, which had not involved protected trees. The removal had followed correct procedure. Proposals for replacement trees would be included in the landscaping plan.

The planning officer also reported that the development was designed not to have a significant adverse impact on neighbour amenity. There was existing vegetation along the boundary with the care home and all first-floor windows in the proposed new dwelling which would face the care home would be either obscure glazed, serving bathrooms or set at high level, to avoid any direct overlooking.

Ms. Louise Harris, the applicant, spoke in support of the application. Ms. Harris made particular reference to policy DES10, relating to carbon reduction, and advised the committee that the dwelling would incorporate solar power sources and wool insulation, with energy recycling measures and utilisation of heat pumps. The planning officer reported that policy DES8 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan (SOLP) sought to ensure that all new development minimised the carbon and energy impacts of their design and construction. Proposals should demonstrate that they were seeking to limit greenhouse emissions through location, building orientation and design. Policy DES9 encouraged schemes for renewable and low energy generation and associated infrastructure. Policy DES10 required new dwellings to achieve at least a 40% reduction in carbon emissions compared with a code 2013 Building Regulations compliant base case. Council officers considered this development proposal to be sustainable.

Councillor Sue Roberts, a local ward councillor, spoke objecting to the application.

In response to a question regarding further information in respect of measures relating to the term ‘ecology’, the planning officer responded that proposed condition 10 would deal with this issue in detail. The committee noted that the site had been subject to ecological surveys in 2019 and update surveys in 2021. These surveys had been considered by the council’s ecologist, who did not consider that the ecological status of the site had changed since permission was originally granted. That officer had raised no objection to the proposal on ecology grounds, subject to a condition which required a biodiversity mitigation and enhancement strategy to be submitted prior to the commencement of development.

In response to a question regarding mitigation and the installation of bird and bat boxes, the planning officer confirmed that the proposed planning conditions would be altered to include these items.

The planning officer concluded by stating that planning permission was recommended, as the principle of a dwelling on this site was acceptable. The contemporary design of the proposal was considered to represent a high quality and sustainable development, which would maintain the character of the site and would not appear prominent or out of keeping with the surrounding area. The scheme was not unneighbourly and was acceptable in terms of the highway impact, ecology issues and impact on protected trees.

A motion moved and seconded, to grant planning permission was declared carried on being put to the vote.

RESOLVED: that planning permission is granted for application P21/3669/FUL, subject to the following conditions:

1.    Commencement three years - Full Planning Permission

2.    Approved plans

3.    Sample materials required (walls and roof)

4.    New vehicular access

5.    Vision splay protection

6.    Parking & Manoeuvring Areas Retained

7.    No Garage conversion into accommodation

8.    Landscaping Scheme (trees and shrubs only)

9.    Tree Protection (Detailed)

10.  Ecology

11.  Surface Water Drainage scheme

12.  Foul Water Drainage scheme