Proposed development of three dwellings with garages and new access.

The application was refused contrary to the Case Officer’s recommendation.

(Proposed development of three dwellings with garages and new access.)

The Senior Planning Officer 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 S Glover, Clerk to Little Birch Parish Council spoke in opposition to the Scheme, Mrs K Dillon, a local resident, spoke in objection.  Mr R Pryce, the applicant’s agent, spoke in support.

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

He made the following principal comments:

·        There was considerable local opposition to the scheme.

·        The proposal was for three large dwellings.  The community wanted affordable homes for young local families.

·        The proposal was not in keeping with the area. The proposed dwellings would dominate the skyline.

·        It was a greenfield site.  The Neighbourhood Development Plan was at examination stage. Other areas of the Parish were far more appropriate for development as provided for in the NDP.  There was concern that approval of the application would lead to the village spreading through subsequent infill development and to suburbanisation.

·        The local road network was in poor condition.  The proposed site was poorly located on a bend opposite a farm and was not in a sensible place to build.

·        The roads were used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders and safety had to be considered.

·        The application was for the wrong type of homes in the wrong location and should be refused.

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

The proposed site was not identified for development within the NDP. It was a greenfield site in the open countryside.  There were other preferred sites for development.

The size and scale of the properties was inappropriate, contrary to policy LD1.

Both Little Birch Parish Council and Much Birch Parish Councils opposed the proposal.  There were also numerous objections from the local community.

Accessibility was poor.  It would be necessary to drive to access services and the proposal was therefore contrary to policy MT1.  The site was also not really sustainable, contrary to policy SS1.

A contrary view was that Little Birch was a settlement identified for development in policy RA2.  The application was for outline planning permission.  There did not appear to be grounds for refusal.

The Development Manager commented that the weight to be given to relevant policies needed to be carefully considered.  The NDP could only be given moderate weight.  The application was for outline permission for three dwellings.  In relation to the scale of the proposed properties, size in terms of number of bedrooms would be a matter for consideration as part of a reserved matters application.  It was however appropriate to consider the visual impact of the scale of the development at this stage.

The local ward member was given the opportunity to close the debate.  He reiterated that the proposal was contrary to the draft NDP.

Councillor Greenow proposed and Councillor Norman seconded a motion that the application be refused on the grounds that it was contrary to policies LD1 in terms of its visual impact, MT1 and SS1.  The motion was carried with 7 votes in favour, 3 against and 3 abstentions.

RESOLVED:  That planning permission be refused on the grounds that the application was contrary to policies LD1 in terms of its visual impact, MT1 and SS1 and officers named in the scheme of delegation to officers be authorised to detail the reasons for refusal.