The proposed erection of 2 no. dwellings and associated works including access, landscaping and drainage.

Application approved, in accordance with the case officer’s recommendation.

Councillor Cole acted as local ward member for the following application

The development manager provided a presentation on the application and the updates/representations received following the publication of the agenda.

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking, a statement was read on behalf of Walford Parish Council, Mr Saunders, local resident, spoke in objection to the application and Mr Thomas, applicant’s agent, spoke in support.

Councillor Jacqueline Carwardine left the meeting at 11:13 a.m.

In accordance with the council's constitution the local ward member spoke on the application. In summary, he explained the application was contrary to Walford neighbourhood development plan (NDP) policy 17 and core strategy policy RA2 as the proposal did not meet the local housing need of 2/3 bedroom houses. Furthermore, the application did not meet the requirements of NDP policies 2 and 4 and core strategy policies SS6 and LD1 as the proposed houses did not preserve or enhance the character of the area. The local area was adversely affected by in-filling and urbanisation. The current application was prominent in the landscape and the design of the houses was urban, out of keeping and dominant in the local setting. The council's principal environment officer had expressed concerns regarding the domineering nature of the houses and the adverse effects on the local landscape. The application proposed housing which did not meet the local housing need, which was contrary to core strategy policies SS2 and RA2 and NDP policy 17. The size, scale, bulk and design of the houses posed a harmful impact on the landscape which was contrary to core strategy policies SS6, RA1, RA2, LD1 and NDP policies 2 and 4.

The committee debated the application and was divided as to the acceptability of the proposals; the following principal points were raised:

• The application proposed two additional dwellings in the local area which was not felt to be excessive and did not pose an adverse impact on the local landscape;
• It was doubted whether the construction of 2/3 bedroom houses or affordable housing in the area was viable;
• The site was allocated for development in the NDP but cumulative development in the area was a concern;
• The proposed houses were felt to be in keeping with the style locally and the topography of the area;
• The Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 was raised and the greater weight that needed to be given to protection of national landscapes;
• The visibility of the developments in the local setting was raised and it was queried weather the landscape and visual impacts assessment (LVIA) undertaken on the application was credible given it had not used views from Coppett Hill;
• The slope of Lays Hill was highly visible in the surrounding area with the driveway proposed and vehicles providing reflective surfaces which would impact negatively on the national landscape;
• It was noted that the size and scale of the houses had been adjusted during the application process and the number of houses proposed on site had been reduced from three  ...  view the full minutes text for item 52