Agenda item

Change of use and alteration to form holiday accommodation. 

The officer presented the report and addendum on application P16/V1101/FUL for a change of use and alteration to form holiday accommodation at Horseshoe Cottage, Bourton, Swindon.

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.

Vanessa Buckley, a local resident, spoke objecting to the application.  Her concerns included the following:

·         Following the deferral to allow for a redesign, nothing has been done to alleviate the overlooking and privacy issues;

·         The proposed ‘brise-soleils’ do nothing regarding overshadowing and are more befitting of a contemporary office block design;

·         A building with fins will not be sympathetic to the conservation area;

·         The 1m height increase will harm the amenity of the neighbouring alms-houses, especially that of number 6; and

·         A wood burning stove and chimney are proposed to be positioned next to two calor gas tanks, which is a fire safety risk.

Henry Venners, the applicant’s agent, spoke in support of the application:

·         The brise-soleils will allow light through without allowing inhabitants to see directly into the neighbouring properties; and

·         The design is not inappropriate to the conservation area, the fins will appear to be timber cladding and would be fixed; and

·         Building regulations would cover the wood burning stove and chimney positioning.

Elaine Ware and Simon Howell, the local ward councillors, had submitted a statement, which was read out to the committee.

The committee considered the application, with advice from officers where appropriate. It was pointed out that the Highways team had requested two extra conditions concerning car parking and turning and for the development to be SuDS compliant, which had not been included. Officers confirmed they could be added.

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

RESOLVED: to grant planning permission for application P16/V1101/FUL, subject to the following conditions:

1.    Commencement of development.

2.    Approved plans.

3.    Details of materials to be submitted.

4.    Prior to the commencement of the development, full details of the ‘fins’ to the two first floor windows, including how they are to be fixed to the building, shall submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. The approved ‘fins’ shall be installed prior to the first use of the building and shall be permanently maintained.

5.    Parking and turning in accordance with plan.

6.    Restriction to use only as holiday accommodation.

7.    Notwithstanding the details shown on drawing number 001, the 1:1250 scale site location plan incorporated as part of the plan does not form part of the application and is omitted.

8.    Car parking and turning as approved.

9.    Development to be SuDS compliant.

Informatives

Your attention is drawn to the need to have regard to the requirements of UK and European legislation related to the protection of certain wild plants and animals. Approval under that legislation will be required and a licence may be necessary if bats are affected by the development. If bats are discovered you must be aware that to proceed with the development without seeking advice from Natural England could result in prosecution.

The applicant is advised that the Controlled Waste Regulations classify waste generated by self-catering holiday accommodation as commercial waste. The district council do not collect commercial waste, and therefore an alternative waste service should be arranged.