Agenda and minutes

Venue: This will be held at 135 Eastern Avenue, Milton Park, Milton, OX14 4SB

Contact: Paul Bateman 

Note: This meeting will be livestreamed. You can watch the broadcast using this link; https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTj2pCic8vzucpzIaSWE3UQ 

Items
No. Item

35.

Chair's announcements

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

Minutes:

The chair ran through housekeeping arrangements appropriate to an in-person meeting which was being simultaneously broadcast.

36.

Apologies for absence

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

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Cheryl Briggs and Councillor Ben Mabbett.

37.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 202 KB

To adopt and sign as a correct record the Planning Committee minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 10 March and Wednesday 31 March 2021. 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The minutes of the previous meetings, held on Wednesday 10 March 2021 and Wednesday 31 March 2021, were agreed to be a correct record of the meetings. It was agreed that the chair sign them as such.

38.

Declarations of interest

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

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

39.

Urgent business

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. 

Minutes:

There was no urgent business.

40.

Public participation

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. 

Minutes:

The committee noted the list of members of the public registered to speak at the, virtually and in person.  The committee had received, prior to the meeting, copies of the statements which had been made.

41.

P19/V1728/RM - Land at Appleford Road, Sutton Courtenay (Former Amey Works) pdf icon PDF 454 KB

Reserved Matters application for details of the appearance, landscaping, layout and scale of the proposed development following planning permission P18/V0069/O (amended plans received 1 October 2020 and 4 December 2020 to show amendments to design, housing mix and layout, and landscaping and as amended by plans received 1 March 2021) (residential development of 91 dwellings and associated access).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The committee considered application P19/V1728/RM for a reserved matters application for details of the appearance, landscaping, layout and scale of the proposed development following planning permission P18/V0069/O (amended plans received 1 October 2020 and 4 December 2020 to show amendments to design, housing mix and layout, and landscaping and as amended by plans received 1 March 2021) (Residential development of 91 dwellings Amey Works).

 

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 reported that at its meeting on 27 January 2021, the committee had resolved to defer consideration of the application to facilitate a site visit and to allow for further negotiations between the developer and council officers. A site visit, attended by members of the committee, took place on 24 May 2021.

 

The planning officer reported on the detailed reasons for the deferral. Firstly, members wished to see the site in context, hence the site visit. Secondly, further discussions were required in respect of providing a link from the site to Millennium Common. Thirdly, further work was required on public open space, play provision and garden sizes. Lastly, the committee requested an increased number of electric vehicle charging points.

 

The planning officer reported that discussions had taken place between the Millennium Common trustees and the developer, and every effort had been made to obtain agreement to this. The Trust could not agree to any additional access onto its land from the site, as this would compromise the biodiversity of the Common. Although the council would support the inclusion of a link to increase connectivity between Sutton Courtenay to the west, the development site and the neighbouring development to the east, there were no planning grounds to insist on a link to third party land.

 

The planning officer, with the assistance of a slide presentation, also reported that the provision for public open space had been increased to 16.4 percent, which was in line with the policy requirement of 15 percent of usable open space. The provision of a local area for play (LAP) and a local equipped area for play (LEAP) also met council policy requirements. In respect of garden sizes, the original proposals did not fully meet design guide space standards. The private amenity space had been increased to the point that only 9 plots out of 91 (9.9% of the development) were below the recommended size in the council’s design guide document. When taken as a whole, the amount of amenity space per dwelling is acceptable in the revised proposal. The planning officer offered to put the changes into context. In the adjoining site, 43 percent of gardens were below standard. Additionally, in a recent appeal decision on a site in the district, the inspector concluded that although 25 gardens were below the size standard, in conjunction with the full amount of public open space being provided, this would offset this ‘minor shortfall’.  In the planning  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41.

42.

P20/V1279/FUL - Land at Townsend Road, Shrivenham pdf icon PDF 196 KB

Redevelopment of the site to provide 10 new dwellings (a net gain of 9 units) and associated parking, gardens, access improvements and landscaping, following the demolition of the existing workshops and bungalow (as amended by details received 28 October 2020 and 4 November 2020 and visibility details 7 May 2021).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The committee considered application P20/V1279/FUL for the redevelopment of the site to provide 10 new dwellings (a net gain of 9 units) and associated parking, gardens, access improvements and landscaping, following the demolition of the existing workshops and bungalow (as amended by details received 28 October 2020 and 4 November 2020 and visibility details 7 May 2021) on land at Townsend Road, Shrivenham.

 

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 reminded the committee that this application had been deferred at the committee meeting of 21 April 2021, as further information was required from the applicant in respect of the proposal addressing local housing need and supporting local employment, services and facilities. The applicant had now submitted this information in the form of a statement which had been the subject of a re-consultation with the parish council. The planning officer also reported the latest situation regarding the Shrivenham Neighbourhood Plan; it was now afforded full weight. The parish council had expressed concerns regarding the effect upon the character of the local area and an apparent lack of evidence to justify extra housing of this nature in Shrivenham. The planning officer advised the committee that the proposal was acceptable from a planning perspective, as it was for an acceptable use and was on a brownfield site. Trees would be retained along the western edge of the site and the local highway authority, the Oxfordshire County Council, had required an amendment to the site’s access, which was now satisfactory. There were no technical objections to the proposed development and drainage and diversity arrangements were acceptable.

 

A statement by Ms. Angela Brickell, a local resident, was sent to committee by the democratic services officer prior to the meeting.

 

Councillor Richard Bartle, a representative of Shrivenham Parish Council, spoke objecting to the application. A statement by Councillor Bartle on behalf, of the parish council, was sent to committee by the democratic services officer prior to the meeting.

 

 Ms. Sarah Hockin, the agent, spoke in support of the application.

 

Councillor Elaine Ware, a local ward councillor, spoke objecting to the application. Statements by Councillor Ware were sent to committee by the democratic services officer prior to the meeting.

 

In response to a question regarding the commercial viability of the site and any efforts to market it, the planning officer advised the committee that an independent assessor had examined the site’s viability using government approved methodology. The conclusion of the study was that the site was not viable for re-development for employment purposes. A further question was asked about privacy and the potential overlooking of existing bungalows by the development. The planning officer reported that obscure glazing would not be suitable for habitable rooms, which were mainly bedrooms, as most would be side facing. With the incorporation of two lines of boundary fencing, there was an intention to have a walkway to service the properties  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.

43.

P20/V1706/FUL - Lock Farm, Buscot, Faringdon pdf icon PDF 336 KB

Change of use of agricultural buildings to office space use and associated works and infrastructure (heritage Impact Statement received 9 September 2020) (proposed layout plan received 14 Sept 2020) (amended plans, arboricultural information, flood risk assessment and landscape proposals rec 17  March 2021).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The committee considered an application P20/V1706/FUL for a change of use of agricultural buildings to office space use and associated works and infrastructure (Heritage Impact Statement received 9 September 2020) (proposed layout plan rec 14 Sept 2020) (amended plans, arboricultural information, flood risk assessment and landscape proposals received 17 March 2021) at Lock Farm, Buscot, Faringdon.

 

The planning officer reported that the buildings were owned by the National Trust, who were applying for a change of use of agricultural buildings to office, co-working and meeting space. The site was within the wider setting of a grade I listed building, the Church of St. Mary and the Old Parsonage, a grade II listed building. The application site shared an access with these buildings and the planning officer considered that vehicular traffic to and from the development would not have an impact upon these assets. Concerns by local residents at the application included increased traffic generation, harm to the setting of the listed buildings, impact upon wildlife and possible unacceptable overflow car parking. The planning officer reported that there were no technical objections to the application and that the drainage arrangements were satisfactory. The scheme also incorporated tree protection measures, hedgerow reinstatement and landscaping.

 

Mr. Guy Jordan, a local resident, spoke objecting to the application.

 

Mr. Christian Walker of the National Trust, the applicant, spoke in support of the application.

 

Councillor Elaine Ware, a local ward councillor, spoke objecting to the application. A joint statement by Councillor Ware and fellow local ward councillor, Simon Howell, had been sent to committee by the democratic services officer prior to the meeting.

 

A statement by Ms. Ellen Hopkins, a local resident, had been sent to committee by the democratic services officer prior to the meeting.

 

The committee considered that the proposal represented a sympathetic re-use of a non-designated heritage asset and was satisfied that the proposal would bring into active use a redundant agricultural building to the benefit of the rural economy.

 

A motion moved and seconded, to grant planning permission was carried on being put to the vote.

 

 

RESOLVED: to grant planning permission for application P20/V1706/FUL, subject to the following conditions;

 

Standard:

 

1.   Commencement

2.   Approved plans

 

Pre-Commencement:

 

3.   Archaeology – written scheme of investigation

4.   Tree Protection

5.   Biodiversity enhancement plan

6.   Surface water drainage

7.   Foul water drainage

8.   Levels for car park

9.   Contamination

10. Security entrance gates

11. External lighting

12. Obtain derogation licence for bats

13. Obtain derogation licence for great crested newts

 

Prior to Occupation:

 

14. Specified visibility splays

15. Access parking and turning in accordance with plans

16. Turning space for emergency/servicing vehicles

17. Vehicle swept paths and passing places

18. Bicycle parking provision

19. Refuse storage

20. Electric vehicle charging points

 

Compliance:

 

21. Restricted use – offices only

22. Archaeology – publication of findings

23. Landscaping implementation

24. Development in accordance with Ecological reports

25. Development in accordance with Flood Risk Assessment

26.Materials in accordance with application

27. Hours restriction

 

 

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