Erection of a single storey residential dwelling (c3) with garage, private driveway and creation of new access into the highway.   

The application was approved in accordance with the Case Officer’s recommendation, with an additional provision relating to the access.

(Erection of a single storey residential dwelling (c3) with garage, private driveway and creation of new access into the highway.)

(Councillor Foxton joined the meeting part way through consideration of this item and accordingly was not eligible to vote upon it.  Councillor Fagan fulfilled the role of local ward member and accordingly had no vote on this application.)

The Development Manager gave a presentation on the application, and updates/additional representations received following the publication of the agenda were provided in the update sheet, as appended to these minutes.

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking, Mrs C Campbell of Garway Parish Council spoke in opposition to the scheme.  Dr B McGinley, a local resident, spoke in objection.  Mr S Collinson, the applicant, spoke in support.

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, the local ward member, Councillor Fagan, spoke on the application.

She made the following principal comments:

·        The absence of a five year housing land supply was creating pressure for development to take place.

·        A site for 8 dwellings was being developed to the north an east of the proposed site.  She considered that development to be out of character with the village setting.  .

·        The Parish Council had been active in securing rights to the common land at Garway.  There was a question over an easement that would be required to achieve an access to the proposed development.

·        She referenced sections of the National Design Guide 2019 produced by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.  This expanded on the provision in the national planning policy framework on the importance of high quality buildings and places and considered how well designed places could be achieved in practice and the identity and character of a place.

·        The proposal before the committee was out of character for the linear settlement of Garway to the detriment of the built environment.

·        There was a presumption in favour of sustainable development unless there were adverse impacts that would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits. 

·        Policy SS6 referred to conserving and enhancing those environmental assets that contributed towards the county’s distinctiveness.  This included the settlement pattern.

·        Paragraph 5.3.29 of the Core Strategy informing Policy SD1 referred to sustainable design and the protection of the built environment.

·        There were therefore policies that could be used to protect the built environment and communities in the face of the pressure for development.

In the Committee’s discussion of the application the following principal points were made:

·        The legal advisor to the committee confirmed that the question of whether an easement could be secured to access the proposed development was not a material consideration.

·        The proposal was for a backland development in a village that was predominantly linear in character.

·        The application was somewhat aspirational in seeking to be environmentally sustainable and could be more positive and definite in that regard.

·        Officers confirmed that the National Design Guide was a recent publication linked to references to design within the NPPF and was a material consideration.  it was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38