Agenda and minutes

The chair ran through housekeeping arrangements appropriate to a virtual meeting.

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

There were no apologies for absence.

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

There were no declarations of interest.

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 committee had received statements which had been made by the public in respect of the applications. These had been circulated to the committee some days prior to the meeting.

The chair advised the committee that in view of the number of speakers registered to speak in respect of item 6 on the agenda, Land to the West of Great Western Park (Valley Park) Didcot, objectors, supporters and ward councillors would each receive 6 minutes speaking time as a category.

Outline planning application for a residential development of up to 4,254 dwellings, mixed-use local centres, primary schools, sports pitches, community and leisure facilities, special needs school, open space and extensive green infrastructure, hard and soft landscaping, attenuation areas, diversions to public rights of way, pedestrian and vehicular access and associated works

The committee considered application P14/V2873/O for an outline planning application for a residential development of up to 4,254 dwellings, mixed-use local centres, primary schools, sports pitches, community and leisure facilities, special needs school, open space and extensive green infrastructure, hard and soft landscaping, attenuation areas, diversions to public rights of way, pedestrian and vehicular access and associated works on Land to the West of Great Western Park (Valley Park) Didcot.

Consultations, representations, policy and guidance, and the site’s planning history were detailed in the officer’s report and appendices, which formed part of the agenda pack for the meeting.

The planning officer reported that this was an outline application with access to be considered, issues such as layout, landscaping, appearance and scale of buildings, would be the subject of a later application should outline permission be granted. The planning officer reported that at the planning committee held on 20 April 2016, it was resolved to approve this application subject to the completion of a S106 legal agreement and conditions. The planning officer’s report to the April 2016 committee was attached as Appendix 1 of the report to this present meeting. The planning officer reported on the changed planning circumstances since that date and provided an update on the progress of the S106 agreement. Paragraph 1.2 of the report outlined the key changes, notably the adoption of the Local Plan 2031, a revised version of the National Planning Policy Framework, the submission of revised plans and updated advice from Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) in its capacity as the highway authority.

The planning officer also reported on representations which had been received since the despatch of the agenda. Didcot Town Council had objected to the proposal on several grounds; it considered that the primary school should be provided prior to the occupation of housing and that a seven-year lead-in period for this provision was unacceptable. The town council had acknowledged the need for the reduction in the use of vehicles implicit in the proposals and considered that zero carbon targets for all dwellings should be pursued. There should also be an increased biodiversity requirement. Improved vehicular connectivity to Great Western Park and Didcot, and to the west of the site, should be provided prior to occupation in the view of the town council.

In respect of medical facilities on site, the town council considered that there should be additional facilities onsite to accommodate at least six new GPs’ surgeries and five dentists’. The town council had objected to the proposed location of the local centre in the south of the site. In its view, a ‘good-sized’ community centre should be provided, or two smaller meeting facilities as an alternative.

The planning officer reported that a local resident had objected on the grounds housing and infrastructure, though all of those points had been made by other objectors and were listed in the report.

The planning officer also reported on masterplan changes to the proposals to facilitate access to the site. The location of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 229.

Loft conversion and ground floor rear extension.

Part way through the consideration of this application, members took a vote just before the meeting guillotine of 8:30pm to continue.

Councillor Jerry Avery left the meeting before the commencement of the determination of this application and therefore did not participate in the discussion or voting on this item.

The committee considered application P20/V3188/HH for a loft conversion and ground floor rear extension at 42 Hutchcomb Road North Hinksey.

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. There were no public speakers on this application.

The planning officer reported that as the rear projection was single storey and that the height followed the slope of the land downwards, away from the dwelling, the proposal was not considered to result in a dwelling which would be overly dominant in its relationship to the adjacent neighbour. It would in fact move the built form in from the northern boundary as a result of the demolition of the existing garage. The majority of the building works could be undertaken under permitted development rights. The North Hinksey Parish Council, the Oxfordshire County Council highways officer and the district council’s drainage officer all had no objection to the proposal. There were no neighbour responses.

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 P20/V3188/HH, subject to the following conditions;

Standard Conditions:

1.       TL1 - Time limit - Full Application (Full).

2.       Approved plans.

Pre-occupation condition:

3.       HY7[I] - Car Parking (Full).

Compliance Conditions:

4. MC3 - Materials in Accordance with Application (Full) Grant planning permission.