Application for approval of reserved matters following outline approval 163364/O (site for 3 detached dwellings with garages and access).

The application was approved in accordance with the Case Officer’s recommendation.

(Application for approval of reserved matters following outline approval 163364/O (site for 3 detached dwellings with garages and access).  

(Councillor Fagan fulfilled the role of local ward member and accordingly had no vote on this application.)

The Senior Planning Officer gave a presentation on the application.

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking, Mr B Thomas, the applicant’s agent, spoke in support of the application.

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

She made the following principal comments:

·        There had been strong local opposition to the outline application granted by the Committee in April 2017.

·        Unfortunately neither the Parish Council nor an objector had been able to attend the meeting to speak on the reserved matters application.

·        The Parish Council had submitted a detailed and considered response objecting to the reserved matters application.  They had commented that the reserved matters application did not observe the spirit of the outline permission. 

·        The proposal was for 3x4 bed dwellings. This was in conflict with the Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP).  Within the Ross Housing Market Area the most required size was 3 bedrooms followed by 2.  Residents were objecting to the scale of the application.

·        She referenced some letters from local residents.  These highlighted concerns about:

·        Scale:  low rise, well-spaced, dormer cottage style 3-bedroom houses had initially been proposed.  The current proposal was for 3 large two storey houses with double detached garages.  Because of the sloping topography of the site the first floor levels of the properties would be the same height as the eaves of the bungalows opposite the site.  The ridge height was 7m.  The increased scale could have a greater impact on the environment than had been predicted.

·        Design:  the houses were of urban design and not in keeping with the area.  They would be intrusive and screening would be ineffective.

·        The dwellings would be overlooked by most of the village.

·        The hedgerow to the fore of the site would be at the first floor level of the properties making the development overbearing.

·        Most of the ancient hedgerow would be removed to provide the three driveways.

·        Drainage – several concerns remained over drainage issues.  It was noted, however, that this issue had been discussed at the outline application stage.

·        Traffic – concerns similarly remained over highway issues.

·        Working hours – the outline permission had permitted construction work between 7am-6pm Monday to Friday.  8am-1pm Saturday.  This would have an unacceptable impact on residents.

·        The National Design Guide 2019 supported paragraph 130 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) which stated that, “permission should be refused for development of poor design that failed to take the opportunities available for improving the character and quality of an area and the way it functions”.

·        Referring to the three objectives of sustainable development, economic, social and environmental she commented that the proposal was contrary to both the social and environmental objectives.

·        The proposal was contrary to policy LD1.  The height, scale and massing of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 89