Agenda and minutes

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

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Ron Batstone who was substituted with Councillor Paul Barrow.

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 emergency evacuation arrangements.

To adopt and sign as a correct record the Planning Committee minutes of the meeting held on 7 September 2022. 

RESOLVED: to approve the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 7 September 2022 as a correct record and agree the Chair signs them 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 Diana Lugova declared an interest in item 9 on the agenda due to application P22/V1120/FUL being part of her ward and so she did not take part in the debate or vote on this application. 

Councillor Val Shaw declared and interest in item 7 on the agenda due to application P22/V1091/FUL being part of her ward and so she did 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 list showing members of the public who had registered to speak was tabled at the meeting.

Retrospective approval for a five-bedroom dwelling with external amendments to windows, a new gable.

(Amended plans received 07 July 2022 to remove proposed car port)

(Amended plans rec 23 August 2022 to resolve discrepancies with the proposal as built)

The committee considered planning application P22/V1091/FUL for the retrospective approval for a five-bedroom dwelling with external amendments to windows, a new gable (Amended plans received 07 July 2022 to remove proposed car port), (Amended plans rec 23 August 2022 to resolve discrepancies with the proposal as built), on land at 2 Poplar Corner, 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 brought to committee on the request of the Vale of White Horse District Council’s planning manager. The dwelling in the application was not built to any approved plans and therefore this application seeks retrospective permission. The planning officer then informed the committee that much of the external alterations on the approved scheme involve the loft conversion and that loft conversions are normally allowed under permitted development rights.

The planning officer noted the objections from the Parish Council and local residents to the application but believed that the revised scheme would be in keeping with the local character of the area and would not cause harmful overlooking on the neighbouring properties. In addition, as the highways and forestry officers had no objection, subject to conditions, the planning officer recommended this application be approved.

Ian Bristow spoke on behalf of Wootton Parish Council, objecting to the application. 

Ifor Rhys, the agent representing the applicant, spoke in support of the application.  

The committee noted the comments of the highways officer and were satisfied with the analysis that there would be adequate space for off-road parking and turning within the site, even with the additional expected vehicles brought by the loft conversion. In response to a question about the road junction into and out of the site, the planning officer informed the committee that the highways officer believed the junction to be adequate and safe.

In response to the committee raising several points about what could be done if work was carried out that was not acceptable or agreed by the Council, the planning officer informed the members that the proposed conditions call for detail to be submitted prior to occupation and that failure to have acceptable plans will be considered by officers and the Council’s planning enforcement team.

Ultimately, the committee expressed concern about the application due to it being a retrospective but agreed that they could see no material planning reasons for refusal. They also encouraged Wootton Parish Council to monitor the site and report any planning breached to the Council’s enforcement team.

A motion, moved and seconded, to approve the application was carried on being put to the vote. 

RESOLVED: to approve planning application P22/V1091/FUL, subject to the following conditions:

Standard:

1. Approved plans

Prior to Occupation:

2. Materials as on plan

3. Access, parking and turning in accordance with plan.

4. Bicycle Parking

5. Refuse Storage

6. Landscaping scheme to be submitted

Compliance:

7.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 64.

Residential development up to 175 dwellings (Outline Planning Application with all matters reserved except means of access to the site from Frilsham Street) and associated works (as per amended plans and documents received in June 2022).

During this agenda item, the meeting length had reached almost two and a half hours. In accordance with the council’s Constitution, the committee voted to extend the meeting in order to finish this item.

RESOLVED: that the meeting be extended beyond two and a half hours in order to complete the current item.

The committee considered planning application P21/V2682/O for the residential development up to 175 dwellings (Outline Planning Application with all matters reserved except means of access to the site from Frilsham Street) and associated works (as per amended plans and documents received in June 2022), on land north of Hobbyhorse Lane Sutton Courtenay.  

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 this application was brought to the committee due to the objection of Sutton Courtenay Parish Council and local residents. The planning officer noted that some of the principal concerns about the application were over transport and access, flooding and drainage, land contamination, and air pollution and odour.

On transport and access, the upcoming Oxfordshire County Council Culham river crossing scheme would increase road capacity, allowing for the increased number of road users brought by the proposed development, and that only a limited number of units, 43, will be allowed to be occupied before this infrastructure scheme was completed. In addition, the new access and road widening plans in the application were considered appropriate by the highways officer. Drainage was another key point raised and discussed by the planning officer. The proposed build form was kept away from the most affected areas affected by draining and the buildings raised 150mm above the existing ground level. On land contamination, the site was immediately adjacent to a landfill (Hobbyhorse Lane North) and near several other landfill sites. Two proposed levels of protection were proposed to mitigate the effects of methane, a special membrane on ground floor of all properties and a vent trench to guide methane migration away from the site. Subject to the maintenance of the vent trench being secured in a S106 agreement, officers considered the site to comply with Local Plan policies DP27 and LPP2. Air pollution and odour where also in some of the objections raised due to the landfill and composting site (around 800m from the site) which was noticed in the village.

Ultimately, as there were no objections raised by officers on technical grounds, the planning officer recommended the application be approved subject to conditions.

Councillor Hugo Raworth spoke on behalf of Sutton Courtenay Parish Council, objecting to the application. 

Anne Morgan-Smith spoke objecting to the application. 

Jim Rawlings, the agent representing the applicant, supported by Marc Rennie and Sarah Kirby, spoke in support of the application.

Councillor Richard Webber, a local ward councillor, spoke objecting to the application. 

The committee then discussed the application in detail with the planning officer, who was supported by several  ...  view the full minutes text for item 65.

Erection of two dwellings with associated access and landscaping (as amended by plans received on the 25th of August 2022).

Consideration of planning application P22/V1120/FUL to be deferred to the next available planning committee meeting.

Demolition of existing building comprising dwellinghouse and self-contained flat; erection of 3 no. 5-bed detached dwellings, each with parking, private amenity space, bin and bicycle storage. Improvements to vehicular access from Grosvenor Road. (As clarified by revised tree protection and service routes plan received on 7 January 2022 and Biodiversity Assessment received 8 March 2022 and as further clarified by full Biodiversity metric, photomontage and appeal note accompanying Agent's email dated 26 April 2022 and Plot size analysis received on 18 May 2022 & as amplified by Analysis Draft v2 - AO & Plot Size Analysis Plan Rev A received 18 May 2022). (As amended by drawing nos 20130 - PV0010 - C and 20130 - PP1011 - C altering access arrangements.)

Consideration of planning application P21/V3123/FUL to be deferred to the next available planning committee meeting.

Addition of one Velux conservation style rooflight in north elevation of main roof to match those existing.

Consideration of planning application P22/V2109/LB to be deferred to the next available planning committee meeting.