Agenda and draft 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 the emergency evacuation arrangements.

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

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Cheryl Briggs.

To adopt and sign as a correct record the Planning Committee minutes of the meeting held on 22 January 2025.

RESOLVED: to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 22 January 2025 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.

Councillor Mike Pighills declared that he was ward member for item 7 on the agenda, P24/V0358/RM. Councillor Pighills confirmed that he would stand down from the committee and not participate in the debate or vote for this item.

Councillor Max Thompson declared that he was ward member for item 7 on the agenda, P24/V0358/RM. Councillor Thompson confirmed that he would stand down from the committee and not participate in the debate or vote for this item.

Councillor Scott Houghton declared that he was ward member for item 8 on the agenda, P24/V2426/FUL. Councillor Houghton confirmed that he would stand down from the committee and not participate in the debate or vote for this item.

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 members of the public who had registered to speak at the meeting and noted the statements that had been circulated prior to the meeting.

Reserved Matters Application (Appearance, Landscaping and Layout)-Re-routing of an existing ditch, provision of a culvert beneath the access road, adjustment of an attenuation pond, provision of an additional attenuation tank, repositioning of trees and shrubs, and re-routing of a footpath alongside Twelve Acre Drive relating to land at North Abingdon-on-Thames Eastern Parcel Areas A and B as required by conditions attached to the outline planning permission (Ref: P17/V0050/O) (As per amended plans received 24 April 2024) The outline planning permission (LPA Ref. P17/V0050/O) to which this application relates was an environmental impact assessment application. An Environmental Statement was submitted to the local planning authority at that time.

Councillor Mike Pighills declared a non-registerable interest in this item as he was the local ward member. Councillor Pighills stood down from the committee during the consideration of this application and did not participate in the debate or vote.

Councillor Max Thompson declared a non-registerable interest in this item as he was the local ward member. Councillor Thompson stood down from the committee during the consideration of this application and did not participate in the debate or vote.

Councillor Val Shaw Chaired the meeting for this item.

The committee considered planning application P24/V0358/RM:

Reserved Matters Application (Appearance, Landscaping and Layout)-Re-routing of an existing ditch, provision of a culvert beneath the access road, adjustment of an attenuation pond, provision of an additional attenuation tank, repositioning of trees and shrubs, and re-routing of a footpath alongside Twelve Acre Drive relating to land at North Abingdon-on-Thames Eastern Parcel Areas A and B as required by conditions attached to the outline planning permission (Ref: P17/V0050/O) (As per amended plans received 24 April 2024)

The outline planning permission (LPA Ref. P17/V0050/O) to which this application relates was an environmental impact assessment application. An Environmental Statement was submitted to the local planning authority at that time.

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 presented the report to members.

The reserved matters for 371 dwellings, including aspects such as drainage, highways, landscaping, appearance, and scale, were approved in 2023. The alteration to the approved drainage came to the committee last year, focusing on rerouting the ditch between the two vehicular accesses.

The officer explained that most features and drainage elements remained in the same location, except for the slight relocation of the ditch.

The officer confirmed that the flooding in Abingdon was not related to the development but due to the lack of maintenance of existing ditches and watercourses to the south of the site. Since dealing with the applicants and progressing the site, no further complaints or queries on drainage matters had been received.

The site's capacity would not be impacted by the proposed changes. The alignment of the ditch, swales, and basins would not materially affect the approved capacity.

A management company would be responsible for maintenance on a yearly, six-monthly, and monthly basis. They would monitor the site and take necessary actions if required.

The officer confirmed that 53 units had been occupied to date. This did not impact the current drainage scheme, and the sewage system had sufficient capacity for the allocation, as confirmed by Thames Water.

Photographs from the site illustrated the relocation and main position of the drainage ditch, the newly constructed footpath, and other elements of the sustainable drainage systems (SuDS). The system was functioning correctly, collecting water without causing flooding, and there were no blockages.

The proposed changes did not alter what was previously deemed acceptable. Therefore, the recommendation for this proposal was approval, subject to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 184.

Change of use from existing dwelling (C3) to children's residential home (C2) (as amplified by noise management policy and details of staff schedule and vehicle movements received 29 November 2024, and as amplified by corrected plan showing parking provision and boundary treatment, and by supporting statement received 11 February 2025).

Councillor Scott Houghton declared a non-registerable interest in this item as he was the local ward member. Councillor Houghton stood down from the committee during the consideration of this application and did not participate in the debate or vote.

The committee considered planning application P24/V2426/FUL:

Change of use from existing dwelling (C3) to children's residential home (C2) (as amplified by noise management policy and details of staff schedule and vehicle movements received 29 November 2024, and as amplified by corrected plan showing parking provision and boundary treatment, and by supporting statement received 11 February 2025).

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 presented the report to members.

The proposal was to change the use of the dwelling to a children's home for a maximum of four young people. The property was located at the end of Long Place and accessed off Fogwell Road. A stream ran along the bottom of the garden, and a footpath ran along the side of the driveway. The rear garden backed onto dwellings along Eynsham Road.

Care would be provided by a management company 24 hours a day. Support workers would care for young people with learning disabilities and/or on the autism spectrum. The dwelling had six bedrooms, including accommodation in the annex. The children's home would have a staff office, a staff room, and bedrooms for four young people. The number of young people able to live on site would be limited to four and secured by condition.

Concerns were raised during the consultation process over parking provision, noise disturbance, and safety measures on site. The officer confirmed that three on-site parking spaces was provided at the front. Any shift changes would happen in a staggered approach, requiring staff to park on surrounding streets for a short period only. This arrangement was reviewed by the highways officer following a site visit, who deemed it satisfactory.

The care approach was to provide a family setting for the young people, with appointments taking place using existing services and facilities away from the property, ensuring specialist care providers would not generate additional vehicle movements to and from the property.

In terms of noise disturbance, the application included general noise management procedures. Although the environmental health officer was satisfied with the information provided, it was recommended that additional detail, management contacts, and an escalation protocol be secured under condition 5.

It was recognised that the dwelling could currently accommodate a large family. The change of use to accommodate four children with three support workers on site would not represent an intensification of use over a single household that could currently take place at the property.

Concerns had been raised over a stream at the bottom of the garden. Suitable measures and supervision would be determined by the regulatory body. This issue did not have a bearing in planning terms. If planning permission was approved, the children's  ...  view the full minutes text for item 185.

Proposed extension to accommodate a self and custom build 2 bedroom dwelling on corner plot.(as per Additional Information received 14 November 2024 and amended plans received 19 December 2024)

The committee considered planning application P24/V1983/FUL:

Proposed extension to accommodate a self and custom build 2 bedroom dwelling on corner plot.(as per Additional Information received 14 November 2024 and amended plans received 19 December 2024).

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 presented the report to members.

This application was referred to the planning committee in accordance with the Council's scheme of delegation, as the Council owns the land within the red line area and objections on planning grounds have been received.

The site location plan showed the position of the site on the corner of School Close to the west, with Stone Bridge Road to the north, adjoining properties to the south, and other residential properties on all sides. Vehicular access was gained via School Close to the west via a dropped kerb.

The site plan showed the new dwelling to the side of the existing house, built over an existing single-storey garage. The subdivision of the plot was to the rear, with a widened parking area to the front of the dwellings. The existing house would have two car parking spaces, while the new dwelling would have one.

The proposed plans showed the side extension set down and back from the existing house, with front and rear projections, seeking to give the appearance of an ancillary extension to the house.

Members were advised that the main issues when assessing this application were its impacts on highway safety and the character of the area. The new dwelling would be provided with a single car parking space, which was considered sufficient for a dwelling of this size in this location, in accordance with Oxfordshire County Council's adopted standards, as confirmed by their lack of objection to the application.

Officers also considered that there would be no harm to visual amenities. Therefore, in the absence of objections from technical consultees and subject to the recommended conditions, officers recommended that permission be granted.

It was noted that Steventon Parish Council had submitted a statement, but no one was present to speak on the application. Members asked questions about the application, particularly regarding highway safety. It was clarified that initial objections from the highways department were resolved after further information was submitted, and a new access to the side was deleted from the proposals for design and character reasons.

Members discussed the application, noting that the highways department initially had objections but later withdrew them after further information was submitted. The proposed new access to the side was deleted from the proposals for design and character reasons.

Members sought clarification on the ownership of the land within the red line area. It was explained that the Council retained ownership of the verge, which included the pavement.

Members noted there were no material planning considerations to object to and that the proposal was in keeping with the area. Some concerns were raised  ...  view the full minutes text for item 186.

To receive the appeals information report from the head of planning.

Recommendation: to consider and note the appeals information report

The committee received the appeals information report from the head of planning. The committee agreed to note the report.