Agenda item

Replacement of the existing family dwelling with a single family dwelling.

Janet Shelley, one of the local ward councillors, stepped down from the committee and did not take part in the debate or voting for this item.

The officer presented the report on application P16/V1903/FUL to replace the existing family dwelling with a single family dwelling at The Gate House, Reading Road, Upton.

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.

Stuart Norman, a representative of Upton parish council, spoke objecting to the application. His concerns included the following:

·         The building currently being constructed is not on the previously approved footprint – it has moved 5 metres to the North;

·         This is now a retrospective application, which in principle opens the floodgates for those who want to build first and apply for planning permission later; and

·         Overlooking is now an issue.

Alex Smith, a local resident, spoke objecting to the application. His concerns included the following:

·         The plans are inaccurate with different design, massing and positioning 5 metres to the North of the approved scheme;

·         The current building is significantly closer, resulting in it being excessively overbearing and over dominant, exacerbated by the ground levels;

·         There will be a significant loss of amenity with the privacy of their back garden being adversely affected;

·         Screening would have to be a suitable height;

·         The access has been widened without authority;

·         The turning area, rubble area and run off are all causing problems; and

·         The mitigation of raising cill heights is not enough.

Neil Perry, the applicant’s agent, spoke in support of the application:

·         The change in location of the footprint was an error, not an intention, for which they apologise; and

·         The application meets all policy criteria.

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

·         The proposal is overbearing, over dominant, unneighbourly and with little landscaping to soften the impact;

·         It will have a harmful effect on the amenity to the neighbours;

·         The original location was insisted on for a reason; and

·         It contravenes policy DC9 due to its scale, massing and unneighbourliness.

In response to matters raised, officers reported that:

·         There has not been a refused application for this site, just amendments following pre-application advice; and

·         The swimming pool was built in its current form with assumed permitted development rights.

The committee considered the application, with advice from officers where appropriate; although not satisfied with the retrospective nature of the current building in construction and impact on the neighbouring property, the committee did not think that there were sufficient material planning reasons to refuse the application.

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 P16/V1092/HH, subject to the following conditions:

1.    Time limit.

2.    Approved plans list.

3.    Drainage details to be submitted - foul water.

4.    Tree protection - submission of a timed programme.

5.    Materials in accordance with application.

6.    Wildlife protection- the development shall be implemented in accordance with the mitigation strategy outlined in the bat survey report.

7.    Archaeology- An archaeological watching brief, to be maintained during the period of construction/during any groundworks taking place on the site.

8.    Access, parking and turning in accordance with application.

9.    Access arrangement to be reinstated once the building works are finished.

10. Permitted developments rights removed.

Informative:

Your attention is drawn to the need obtain a European Protected Species (EPS) Licence before any development or demolition can proceed. You must be aware that to proceed with the development without first obtaining an EPS Licence could result in prosecution.