Agenda and minutes

The chairman outlined the emergency evacuation arrangements and the procedure for the meeting.

Vice-Chair Councillor Val Shaw acted as Chair in the absence of Councillor Bob Johnston.

Councillor Robert Maddison was voted in as acting Vice-Chair for the meeting.

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

Councillor Bob Johnston sent his apologies and appointed Councillor Eric De La Harpe as his substitute.

To adopt and sign as a correct record the Planning Committee minutes of the meeting held on 11 September 2019. 

RESOLVED: to adopt the minutes of the committee meetings held on 11 September 2019 as a correct record and agree that the chairman signs them as such.

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

None

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. 

The Committee heard an update from officers that the Vale Council have adopted the Local Plan Part 2 and that full weight can now be afforded to this in consideration of planning applications.

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 of registered speakers was tabled at the meeting.

Approval of reserved matters (layout, scale, appearance, landscaping, and internal access) for residential phase 1b pursuant to condition 8 (reserved matters) of planning permission (ref: P19/V1269/FUL), comprising 102 residential dwellings, public open space, car parking, and associated infrastructure works and approval of details in relation to phase 1b for conditions 8, 13, 17, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 28, 31, 34, 35, 36, and 37 pursuant to planning permission (ref: P19/V1269/FUL). The outline planning application was an environmental impact assessment application. (As amended by plans received 27 March 2019, 2 July 2019, 16 August 2019 and 24 September 2019).

The committee considered application P19/V0565/RM  - Land north of A417, Crab Hill, Wantage for the approval of reserved matters (layout, scale, appearance, landscaping, and internal access) for residential phase 1b pursuant to condition 8 (reserved matters) of planning permission (ref: P19/V1269/FUL), comprising 102 residential dwellings, public open space, car parking, and associated infrastructure works and approval of details in relation to phase 1b for conditions 8, 13, 17, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 28, 31, 34, 35, 36, and 37 pursuant to planning permission (ref: P19/V1269/FUL). The outline planning application was an environmental impact assessment application.  (As amended by plans received 27 March 2019, 2 July 2019, 16 August 2019 and 24 September 2019).

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. 

Officer Updates:

·         Further communication had been received from Thames Water relating to water main infrastructure within the development boundary.

·         Further communication had been received from the Highways Authority supporting the requirement of the provision of a cycle link to phase 1A.

Julie Mabberley spoke, objecting to the application on behalf of Wantage and Grove Campaign group.

Camilla Duckworth (Turley), the applicant’s agent, spoke in support of the application.

In response to questions raised by the committee the officers reported that;

·         Thames Water have submitted no objections to the application and the access required to maintain the water main will be managed as a civil matter and is not a material planning consideration.

·         The change in the proposed plan for the position of the pedestrian gate access from north to east was not considered to be a substantial material change.

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

Retrospective planning application submission for the rear patio and raised level of the strip of ground situated between the patio and the site's northern boundary which was carried out during the works of the approved front and rear extension (application No. P17/V2719/HH). Proposed erection of a timber fence on the northern boundary at a height of 1.8 metres from the rising ground level.

The committee considered application P19/V0184/HH – 51 Yarnells Hill, Oxford, OX2 9BE for retrospective planning application submission for the rear patio and raised level of the strip of ground situated between the patio and the site's northern boundary which was carried out during the works of the approved front and rear extension (application No. P17/V2719/HH). Proposed erection of a timber fence on the northern boundary at a height of 1.8 metres from the rising ground level.

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. 

Officer Updates:

·         Officers advised the Committee of an error in paragraph 5.1, page 29 of the report should read – the increase in the height of the extension by approximately 200mm, not 200m.

·         Further communication objecting to the item was received from Mr Charles Keen, neighbour, by way of report.

Charles Keen, neighbour, spoke, objecting to the application.

Matthew Alden, applicant, spoke in support of the application.

Councillor Emily Smith, one of the local ward councillors spoke in objection to the application.

A motion moved and seconded, to refuse the application failed on being put to the vote.

Following debate, it was agreed that a split motion would be put forward considering the application for the single-story extension separately to that of the application for the patio, associated works and proposed fence.

A motion moved and seconded, to approve the application for the single-story and obscure glazed window was extension was declared carried on being put to the vote. 

RESOLVED: to grant planning permission for application P19/V0184/HH (Single Story Extension and obscure glazed window) subject to the following conditions:

Standard Conditions:

1.  Approved Plans

Compliance Conditions:

4.  Ensuite window to remain obscure glazed and top hung only

A motion moved and seconded, to refuse the application for the patio, associated works and proposed fence was declared carried on being put to the vote. 

RESOLVED: to refuse planning permission for application P19/V0184/HH (Patio, associated works and proposed fence) for the following reasons:

1.By reason of the significant raising of original ground levels, the existing patio and raised strip of land adjacent to the north boundary allow for harmful overlooking of the rear garden and lounge window of no.49 Yarnells Hill, to the detriment of residential amenities. As such the proposal is contrary to policy DP23 of the Vale of White Horse Local Plan 2031 Part 2.

2.The proposed timber fence on the north boundary of the site will cause harm to the residential amenities of the occupiers of no.49 Yarnells Hill through over-dominance and loss of light, contrary to policy DP23 of the Vale of White Horse Local Plan 2031 Part 2.

Partial demolish and internal alterations for the existing house and new construction into four number 2 bedroom (4 person) flats over ground floor, first floor and loft, together with 4 parking positions, bicycle stores, refuse and recycle stores, hard and soft landscaping and associated site works (Amendment to extension width as shown on drawing 38118-09 Rev B)

The committee considered application P19/V0538/FUL - 75 Laburnum Road, Botley, Oxford, OX2 9EN, Partial demolish and internal alterations for the existing house and new construction into four number 2 bedroom (4 person) flats over ground floor, first floor and loft, together with 4 parking positions, bicycle stores, refuse and recycle stores, hard and soft landscaping and associated site works (Amendment to extension width as shown on drawing 38118-09 Rev B)

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. 

Hossein Moghaddam, the applicant, spoke in support of the application.

Councillor Emily Smith, one of the local ward councillors spoke in objection to the application.

In response to questions raised by the committee, the officers reported that;

·         Significant weight must be given to the completion of parking surveys undertaken by traffic officers which have deemed the four off-street parking spaces acceptable in this location.

·         The outcome of Oxfordshire County Council’s consideration of a road traffic order to prohibit on-street parking in the vicinity is currently not known at present and so cannot be given significant weight.

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 P19/V0538/FUL subject to the following conditions:

Standard Conditions:

1. TL1 - Time limit - Full Application

2. Approved plans

Pre-commencement Conditions:

3. Protection for boundary hedge

Pre-occupation condition:

4.  MC24 - Drainage Details (Surface and Foul

5.  HY6 – Access and parking in accordance with plan.

6.  HY20 - Bicycle Parking

7.  RE29 - Refuse Storage

Compliance Conditions:

8. Retain boundary hedge at 2m high

9. MC3 - Materials in Accordance with Application