Agenda and minutes

The chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting, outlined the procedure to be followed and advised on emergency evacuation arrangements.

To record apologies for absence and the attendance of substitute members. 

Councillors Anthony Hayward, Monica Lovatt and Sandy Lovatt tendered apologies. Councillors St John Dickson and Yvonne Constance acted as substitutes.

To adopt and sign as a correct record the Planning Committee minutes of the meeting held on 22 March and 12 April 2017 (attached). 

RESOLVED: to approve the minutes of the meetings held on 22 March and 12 April 2017 as correct records and agree that the chairman sign these as such.

To receive any declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests in respect of items on the agenda for this meeting.  

Councillors Jenny Hannaby and Ben Mabbett declared that in relation to application P17/V0425/FUL - Redruthen, Springfield Road, Wantage, they would be stepping down from committee as they were present at the Wantage town council meeting at which this application had been discussed.

Councillor Bob Johnston declared that in relation to P17/V0441/O – 6-8 Cumnor Road, Boars Hill, Oxford, he is the county councillor for the Wootton parish and attends their committee meetings, but was not present during discussions relating to this application.

To receive notification of any matters which the chairman determines should be considered as urgent business and the special circumstances which have made the matters urgent. 

There was no urgent business.

To receive any statements from members of the public that have registered to speak on planning applications which are being presented to this committee meeting. 

The list showing nine members of the public who had registered to speak on planning applications was tabled at the meeting.

The committee clerk also advised the committee that the information circulated by a member of the public in hard copy was not new information and had been previously circulated by email and was therefore permitted.

Demolition of Crossroads Garage showroom and sales office, retaining workshops at the rear, with one being altered to act as a new reception/office. New local supermarket with associated storage/office space, plant, refuse area and three flats above the supermarket with associated amenity space and shared refuse/bike storage.

The officer presented the report and addendum on application P16/V3236/FUL to demolish the Crossroads Garage showroom and sales office, retaining the workshops at the rear with one being altered to act as a new reception/office; new local supermarket with associated storage/office space; plant; refuse area; and three flats above the supermarket with associated amenity space and shared refuse/bike storage at Faringdon Road, Southmoor, Abingdon.

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 addendum report included an additional letter of objection having been received, repeating concerns already listed within the officer’s report.

Brian Forster, a representative of Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor Parish Council, spoke objecting to the application. His concerns included the following:

·         Nothing has significantly changed since the application was refused in September;

·         The development would be the height of two double decker buses and therefore severely impact the low level and historic buildings around it (the former Methodist chapel);

·         The proposal is contrary to policies DC1 and due to it being over-dominant and out of keeping and DC5, due to safety concerns for pedestrians and cyclists; and

·         There is insufficient parking proposed on site.

Sarah Lewis and Patrina Effer, two local residents, spoke objecting to the application. Their concerns included the following:

·         The application is contrary to policy DC1 due to its height and mass;

·         It is contrary to policy DC5 due to insufficient parking;

·         It is contrary to policy DC9 as it would significantly overlook neighbouring properties;

·         Following the last refusal of an application on this site, the new design has only seen a 5.2% reduction in mass; and

·         The urban designer has concerns.

Nick Lyzba, the applicant’s agent, spoke in support of the application. His points included the following:

·         There are no objections from any statutory consultees;

·         The design is more traditional than that which was refused with three gables facing Faringdon Road;

·         The height of 8.5m is consistent with normal two-storey houses;

·         The proposal accords with the council’s design guide in relation to corner sites.

Eric Batts, the local ward councillor, spoke objecting to the application. His concerns included the following:

·         Having a retail store on this site is inappropriate;

·         This application should be refused on the grounds of design due to the impact on the street scene;

·         It is over-dominant and would have a major impact on highways and traffic; and

·         If the committee is minded to approve it, it is requested that stricter delivery times are enforced by condition, lights are turned off when the shop is closed and the ATM is not in use when the shop is closed.

Questions of clarification were put to the officers covering the following points:

·         Having expressed concerns for the late delivery times, officers confirmed that these can be changed by condition and also request a quiet delivery plan;

·         Regarding its overall massing in relation to the application which was refused, although only there is only a 5.2%  ...  view the full minutes text for item 223.

Demolition of existing 2-storey building and garage and erection of new building consisting of seven apartments and related works.  Associated change of use of site from part A1 retail/part C3 residential to entirely C3 residential.

The officer presented the report and addendum on application P17/V0441/O to demolish the existing two-storey building and garage and to erect a new building consisting of seven apartments and related work; to include an associated change of use of the site from part A1 retail/part C3 residential to entirely C3 residential at 6-8 Cumnor Road, Boars Hill, Oxford

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 addendum report included an additional letter of objection having been received and an amendment to the committee report in paragraph 5.9 to include the word “extended” – “point closest to 10 Cumnor Road and extended some 0.35m closest to 4 Cumnor Road.”

Vivien Matthews, a local resident, spoke objecting to the application. Her concerns included the following:

·         The proposal does nothing to address the reasons for the previous refusal

·         The footprint of the building has increased in relation to the previously refused scheme;

·         The site would dwarf the neighbouring bungalows and be visible from the main road;

·         Although the number of flats has decreased, the number of bedrooms has increased from 10 to 14, meaning a 40% increase on occupancy;

·         Parking provision is insufficient and the spaces are smaller than highways’ specification; and

·         Harmful impact to the amenity to 1 The Willows and 12 Cumnor Road especially.

Adrian James, the applicant’s agent, spoke in support of the application. His points included the following:

·         There are no objections from statutory consultees;

·         The relation between the proposed development and number 10 Cumnor Road will be improved from the previously refused application as it will now be a further 10m away;

·         The parish council have withdrawn their objection; and

·         The commercial use of the current site sees 150 traffic movements a day, therefore changing the site to residential will improve the highways issues, including dedicated parking provision.

Questions of clarification were put to the agent and he responded as follows:

·         The closed bin store provision would be an improvement on the current industrial bin storage on site, the arrangement of which can be further discussed at the reserved matters stage;

·         The parking spaces can easily be altered to accommodate a greater width as per highways recommendations;

·         Highways have no objection to the width of the access;

·         The parking allocated at the front of the site is subject to a pending agreement with highways to rationalise ownership, but it will be wholly on site and privately allocated.

The committee considered the application, with advice from officers where appropriate.  The committee did not agree that the proposal would fit in with the street scene or that the concerns raised had been sufficiently addressed by virtue of its scale, bulk, massing, design and location.

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/V0441/O, for the following reason:

Having regard to the scale, bulk, massing,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 224.

Outline planning application for the demolition of existing dwelling, and residential development (Class C3) of up to 19 dwellings; with associated car parking, turning, public open space, landscaping, and access arrangements - external access not reserved.

Janet Shelley, one of the local ward councillors, stepped down from the committee. She took no part in the debate or voting for this item. A motion, moved and seconded, to nominate Ben Mabbett to act as chairman for this item was declared carried on being put to the vote.

The officer presented the report and addendum on application P17/V0348/O for outline planning permission for a residential development of up to 19 dwellings with associated car parking, turning, public open space, landscaping and access arrangements; to include the demolition of the existing dwelling at Long Reach, Didcot Road, Harwell, Didcot.

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 addendum report included an additional response from the highways authority, commenting on the matter of an additional access on to the B4493 being acceptable.

Mike Fox Davies, a representative of Harwell Parish Council, spoke objecting to the application. His concerns included the following:

·         The parish council are objecting on the grounds of access and highways;

·         They would like to ensure connectivity with Valley Park from the start; and

·         The parish council believe that highways have made an error in their visibility splay calculations which do not take into account the correct speeds on the B4493.

Mark Pettitt, the applicant’s agent, spoke in support of the application. His points included the following:

·         This site is within the strategic allocation of the Valley Park development;

·         The proposal can demonstrate that a good mix of housing can be accommodated on the site, including six affordable units;

·         There are no technical or environmental constraints;

·         There are no objections from highways; and

·         The overall impact of traffic will be negligible for this size of development; and

·         The issue of connectivity has been addressed in their submission, on the indicative layout there are two potential sites to the south west where it could connect with Valley Park; and

·         In response to concerns for the loss of trees on site, the applicants have been liaising with the Forestry Officer to retain 18 out of 55 trees, thus conserving a third.

Janet Shelley, one of the local ward councillors, spoke objecting to the application. Her concerns included the following:

·         Support for the parish council regarding the vision splays; and

·         Concern for the increase of traffic once the additional link road is constructed in Hagbourne.

Questions of clarification were put to the officers and responded to as follows:

·         Highways have been consulted twice on visibility splays and therefore a different response should they be consulted further would be unlikely to yield a different response;

·         The development manager highlighted the informative within the officer’s report stipulating that the under-provision of amenity space, housing mix and impact on ecology and trees are not acceptable, but can be addressed at the reserved matters stage.

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

A motion, moved and seconded, to authorise the head  ...  view the full minutes text for item 225.

Demolition of existing rear extension, erection of a new single storey rear extension. Proposed loft conversion and new front porch (part retrospective).

The officer presented the report on application P16/V3069/HH to demolish the existing rear extension and erect a new single storey rear extension to include a loft conversion and new front porch at Finmore Road, Botley, Oxford.

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.

Debby Hallett, one of the local ward councillors, spoke objecting to the application. Her concerns included the following:

·         This application is contrary to saved policy H24, which states that extensions should not harm the amenity of neighbouring properties;

·         This proposal would overshadow the neighbour’s living space; and

·         The height is of most concern as this would increase it by 1.6m.

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

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

RESOLVED: to grant planning permission for application P16/V3069/HH, subject to the following conditions:

Standard conditions:

1.    Development to be built accordance with approved plans.

Compliance conditions:

2.    Materials to match existing dwelling.

3.    Two car parking spaces to be permanently retained.

Rear flat roof dormer, rear cottage style dormer and convert hip to gable.

Councillor Bob Johnston, one of the local ward councillors, stepped down from the committee and took no part in the debate or voting for this item.

The officer presented the report on application P17/V0007/HH for a rear flat roof dormer, rear cottage style dormer and conversion of hip to gable roof at 10 Poplar Grove, Kennington.

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.

Martin Feather, a representative of Kennington Parish Council, spoke objecting to the application. His concerns included the following:

·         The application is out of keeping with the character of the area;

·         It is unneighbourly and overbearing, overlooking the rear gardens on the south side of Poplar Grove; and

·         The junction with the Avenue already suffers from on-street parking issues.

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

·         The application is unneighbourly and out of character; and

·         The ground falls away around the properties, increasing the impact.

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

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

RESOLVED: to grant planning permission for application P17/V0007/HH, subject to the following conditions:

Standard Conditions:

1.    Commencement three years - full planning permission.

Compliance Conditions:

2.    Approved plans.

3.    Materials in accordance with application.

4.    Car parking for three spaces retained.

New summerhouse.

Councillors St John Dickson, Jenny Hannaby and Ben Mabbett stepped down from the committee and took no part in the debate or voting for this item.

The officer presented the report on application P17/V0425/HH for a new summerhouse at Redruthen, Springfield Road, Wantage.

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

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

RESOLVED: to grant planning permission for application P17/V0425/HH, subject to the following conditions:

1.    Commencement within three years.

2.    Development completed in accordance with approved plans.

3.    Materials in accordance with application.