Agenda and minutes

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

The vice-chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and outlined the meeting procedure to be followed. She also explained the emergency evacuation procedure.

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

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Max Thompson (chair), who was substituted for Councillor Robert Clegg, and Councillor Jill Rayner, who was substituted for Councillor Emily Smith.

To adopt and sign as a correct record the Planning Committee minutes of the meeting held on 26 July 2023. 

RESOLVED: to approve the minutes of the meetings held on 26 July 2023 as correct records 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.

Councillor Val Shaw declared an interest in item 8 on the agenda due to application P23/V1093/HH being in her ward and so she would not take part in the debate or vote on this application.

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.

Application for the redevelopment of an existing redundant site for mixed-use residential and retail development, including the provision of parking, refuse and cycle storage and associated works following partial demolition of the existing retail unit. As amended by: (Additional and amended information received 28 February 2022). (Additional and amended information received 22 November 2022 to revise site layout in respect of bins, cycle parking, pedestrian access and turning provision and provide PRA) (Amended elevation plan rec 5 Dec 2022) (Amended plans rec 19 Dec 2022 revising car and cycle parking and providing bin presentation point). (Additional bat surveys received 16 June 2023)

The committee considered planning application P21/V3520/FUL for the redevelopment of an existing redundant site for mixed-use residential and retail development, including the provision of parking, refuse and cycle storage and associated works following partial demolition of the existing retail unit, as amended by: (additional and amended information received 28 February 2022), (additional and amended information received 22 November 2022 to revise site layout in respect of bins, cycle parking, pedestrian access and turning provision and provide PRA ), (amended elevation plan rec 5 Dec 2022), (amended plans rec 19 Dec 2022 revising car and cycle parking and providing bin presentation point), (additional bat surveys received 16 June 2023), on land at 3-7 Marlborough Street, Faringdon.  

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 was brought to the committee as the Vale of White Horse District Council owned the land to the rear of the site (Southampton Street Car Park).

The planning officer informed the committee that the site was located in Faringdon town centre and within the Faringdon Conservation Area. The site also fronted onto Marlborough Street to the north-west and Southampton Street Car Park to the south-east. In addition, the committee was informed that there were several grade II listed buildings near the site: the Roman Catholic Church of Blessed Hugh and St Thomas to the south-west, the Corn Exchange and former Savings Bank across Marlborough Street to the north, and the Red Lion former public house adjoining the site to the north-east.

The planning officer also noted that the frontage of the site onto Marlborough Street was a pair of 19th century town houses with a single-story link, in which one was occupied by Costa Coffee and the other was formerly occupied by Budgens, and the rear was enclosed and developed into retail space but was currently unused.

It was also noted that a previous scheme was approved in 2020 which accepted the principal of development due to the reduced floor space for retail which was believed to increase the viability of future retail occupants and in turn enhance the town. The dwellings were also sighted further away from grade II listed church in the current application than in the previously approved one. Due to these amendments, the conservation officer viewed the present scheme as being better than the previously approved application. 

As the application would provide seven new flats, the proposed car parking provision of 14 spaces was confirmed by the planning officer to be in compliance with the parking standards. The planning officer also highlighted a correction to the report as point 5.26 should read ‘14 unallocated car parking spaces’, not 15.

On the character and design of the development, the planning officer informed the committee that it was officer’s opinion that the application would be in keeping with the surrounding area as it would be traditional  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

Proposed driveway / dropped kerb. (As amplified by additional information received 22 June 2023)

As the acting chair, Councillor Val Shaw, stood down from the committee for this item as she was the local ward member, the committee held an election for a chair.

RESOLVED: that in the absence of the chair and vice-chair, Councillor Mike Pighills be elected as chair.

The committee considered planning application P23/V1093/HH for the proposed driveway / dropped kerb, (as amplified by additional information received 22 June 2023), on land at 39 Wootton Village, Boars Hill, Oxford.  

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 was called into the committee by the local ward member, Councillor Val Shaw.

The planning officer informed the committee that the application was for an additional access for one of the two detached dwellings approved in 2021 on the west side of Wootton Village Road.

In response to the original objection from Oxfordshire County Council highways, a vision splays plan was submitted. When reconsulted, highways removed their objection subject to conditions but noted that the nearby conifer tree would need to be regularly maintained.

The planning officer informed the committee that although the access would remove some greenspace, area of verge to the north and south would remain, as well as the recently planted tree. In addition, as she believed that the application would not harm the appearance of the area or neighbouring amenity, and that as highways had no objection, she recommended the application be approved.

Councillor Gerardine Quaghebeur spoke on behalf of Wootton Parish Council, objecting to the application. 

Councillor Val Shaw, a local ward councillor, spoke objecting to the application. 

The committee asked about the representations from Oxfordshire County Council highways and what the reasons were behind the change from their initial objection. In response, the planning officer confirmed that when the applicant submitted additional information around visibility splays, although it did not cover all the points raised, highways were no longer able to maintain an objection. Members noted the position of highways and that as the land of proposed driveway belonged to them, and as they had no objection, they had given permission for the application. However, the committee maintained concerned about some of the points detailed in highways first representation and felt that they were not addressed.

When asked about how many other driveways on the road had a similar access, the planning officer confirmed there were several such accesses in both directions along the road.

The committee also inquired into the potential loss of street parking for school pick up and drop off, but they accepted the input from the planning officer that street parking was not a material planning consideration for the application as there was no allocated parking for school pickup and drop off that would be affected by the application, so it could not be protected for that use.

Members discussed the area around the site  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40.