Agenda item

Improvements to public open space, including footpath connections, landscaping, and swales (as amended by plans and documentation received 8 August 2022).

The committee considered planning application P22/V1545/FUL for the improvements to public open space, including footpath connections, landscaping, and swales (as amended by plans and documentation received 8 August 2022), on land at Public Open Space, Pointer Place, Marcham, Abingdon.  

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 due to the objection of Marcham Parish Council. The application itself was seeking to regularise a breach of planning control in the Willow Farm development and reinstate what was required in the original application. The planning officer noted that the parish council objected as it wanted to see additional linkages of the site to the north, and to the east where 90 dwellings had been approved. However, as the reserved matters application only contained the south link westwards, and not a link to the north, the Planning Enforcement officers were only pursuing the link shown on the approved plans. If the application was approved, it was confirmed that Planning Enforcement officers would pursue planning breaches in the adjoining site to ensure that the footpath would link, and that surfaces would be tarmacked.

The planning officer also noted the concerns of residents about the provision of a bench. The original plans had indicated there would be four benches and the planning officer advised the committee an acceptable compromise had been reached with the provision of one bench.

Overall, as both the hard and soft landscaping were considered acceptable, that the application did not diminish the character of the area, and that it was considered acceptable in drainage terms, the application was recommended for approval, subject to conditions.

Councillor Michael Hoath spoke on behalf of Marcham Parish Council, objecting to the application.

A statement was read out on behalf of Councillor Catherine Webber, a local ward councillor who could not attend the meeting, objecting to the application.

The committee asked about the possibility of implementing a link from the site to the eastern development. However, the planning officer indicated that as the land was owned by a private third party it would not be possible. Also, when asked about the link to the north not being implemented, the planning officer confirmed that enforcement action could only be taken on what was in the detailed layout plan, and therefore only the south linkage could be pursued.

Members also asked the planning officer about footpath treatment and the necessity of making it a tarmacked surface, but as the path would be used by buggies and wheelchairs, the officers considered this to be a necessity. Finally, in response to a question about the placement of the proposed bench, the planning officer also confirmed that it would be placed in a public open space and not by a private garden.

The committee expressed their concern that the footpath and linkages were not implemented when the application was first completed and that the lack of a five year housing supply at that time had led to disconnected developments, but they agreed that this application was a good compromise to remedy the situation and so should be approved, subject to conditions.

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

RESOLVED: to approve planning application P22/V1545/FUL, subject to the
following conditions:

1. Approved plans

2. Within the next planting season and no later than 12 months of the date of this permission, all hard and soft landscape works shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details (as shown on the listed drawings in condition 1). Thereafter, the landscaped areas shall be maintained for a period of 5 years. Any trees or shrubs which die or become seriously damaged or diseased within 5 years of planting shall be replaced by trees and shrubs of similar size and species to those originally planted.

3. Notwithstanding surface material details stated on drawing 13-1385-PACK-ICS-01-XX-DR-C-0100 Rev P02, the footpath connection shall be tarmac surfaced and within six months of the date of this permission, all drainage works, panel fence removal and the footpath shall be completed.

4. Tree Protection during construction.