Agenda and minutes

To receive any announcements from the chair, and general housekeeping matters.

The chair 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. 

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Ron Batstone, who was substituted for Councillor Paul Barrow, Councillor Jenny Hannaby, who was substituted for Councillor Hayleigh Gascoigne, Councillor Cheryl Briggs, and Councillor Jill Rayner.

To adopt and sign as a correct record the Planning Committee minutes of the meeting held on 25 September 2024. 

RESOLVED: to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 25 September 2024 as a correct record and agree that the chair sign these as such.

To receive declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests, other registrable interests and non-registrable interests or any conflicts of interest in respect of items on the agenda for this meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive notification of any matters which the chair 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 committee noted the list of the members of the public who had registered to speak at the meeting.

Change of use and associated works to existing buildings to form 5 no. dwellings with associated operations and landscaping works. Erection of car ports for each property. (as updated by revised Phasing Plan received 25 March 2024, and as amplified by plans showing access arrangements and secure bike storage received 9 May 2024, and as amplified by additional technical detail relating to access and turning, waste collection and biodiversity received 15 July 2024, and as corrected by entrance plan adjusting scale received 23 July 2024, as amplified by supporting information - highways and waste management received 18 September 2024).

The committee considered planning application P24/V0653/FUL for change of use and associated works to existing buildings to form 5 no. dwellings with associated operations and landscaping works. Erection of car ports for each property. (as updated by revised Phasing Plan received 25 March 2024, and as amplified by plans showing access arrangements and secure bike storage received 9 May 2024, and as amplified by additional technical detail relating to access and turning, waste collection and biodiversity received 15 July 2024, and as corrected by entrance plan adjusting scale received 23 July 2024, as amplified by supporting information - highways and waste management received 18 September 2024) on land at Woodland Farm, Appleton Road, Longworth, Abingdon, OX13 5EF.

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 introduced the report and highlighted that the application sought to convert six barns to five dwellings. She clarified that the Joint Local Plan was now at Regulation 19 not Regulation 18 as set out in the report but that the same weight applied to the policies.

The planning officer informed the committee that an extant permission applied to the site under class Q of the General Permitted Development Order for the conversion of the barns to five dwellings and that this had to be completed by July 2025 which the applicant had confirmed was possible. The planning officer highlighted that the differences with this application from the class Q prior approval were the inclusion of bike stores, car ports, parking provision and an orchard to ensure biodiversity net gain. She went on to advise that the conversion as proposed under the application before the committee was consistent with the granted prior approval and as such there was a valid fallback position and the principle of conversion was acceptable.

The planning officer highlighted that since the site visit the applicant had confirmed that waste collection for the proposed dwellings would be provided via a private service provider and that the vehicles would be able to access and enter the site to collect waste. She informed the committee that an additional condition in relation to waste collection details was proposed – condition 13.

The planning officer went on to propose an amendment to condition 11 from the officer recommendation to specifically include the passing bays on the access road. She informed the committee that the local highways authority were satisfied that access for five dwellings could be provided without impact to existing neighbours or the highways network.

The planning officer informed the committee that the application complied with Local Plan policy CP46 as biodiversity net gain was secured. She advised it was acceptable to deliver this on site or on land within the applicant’s ownership. She advised that the relevant proposed condition secured the maintenance of this for a period of 30 years and a management company would be set up to deliver this. The planning  ...  view the full minutes text for item 156.

Construction of a single storey Young Persons Centre building providing activity spaces and facilities to support local scout groups and young people. (As amplified by Transport Statement received 15 June 2022)

The committee considered planning application P21/V1195/FUL for the construction of a single storey Young Persons Centre building providing activity spaces and facilities to support local scout groups and young people. (As amplified by Transport Statement received 15 June 2022) on land east of Oxford Close, Oxford Road, Kingston Bagpuize.

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 introduced the report again highlighting to the committee that the Joint Local Plan was now at Regulation 19 stage but that the policies carried the same, limited weight as at Regulation 18. She advised that the applicant was 1^st Longworth Scout Group and the proposal included the construction of two halls, a climbing wall, kitchen and associated storage areas. The planning officer advised that the site was safe guarded for young persons use under the wider development which had been built out. She confirmed a proposed condition to use being by young people with a tie to the local area.

The planning officer informed the committee that the parking requirements for community use buildings were based on proposed floorspace and that to meet current highways standards the proposal required 16 car parking spaces to be provided. The proposal before the committee included six spaces and two disabled spaces. She informed the committee that the local highways authority objected on the basis the parking provision was inadequate, and risked drivers parking and turning in Oxford Road, introducing a risk to highway safety. The applicant had confirmed that the choice to provide fewer spaces was conscious as members were encouraged to use sustainable methods of transport. A copy of the group’s walking policy had been provided and secured by condition to ensure the policy also applied to any new groups using the hall in the future.

The planning officer confirmed the application was recommended for approval.

Tim Clark spoke in support of the application.

The democratic services officer read a statement on behalf of Councillor Jill Rayner, the local ward member.

The committee had conducted a site visit prior to the discussion of the application.

The committee asked the planning officer to confirm the approach to minimum and maximum parking spaces required for proposed developments. The planning officer confirmed that the requirements were a maximum and that there was no minimum provision. When making an assessment as to parking requirements other material planning considerations had to be weighted in the balance. The planning officer confirmed that the push for sustainable travel made the shortfall in parking provision, on balance, acceptable.

The committee asked for more information as to the safety concerns the local highways authority had raised in relation to the parking provision. The planning officer confirmed that the proposed site was located down a narrow, no-through road. Highways had concerns around parking spilling into this road and vehicles then having to turn in driveways and the road. The planning officer advised  ...  view the full minutes text for item 157.