Erection of 12 new dwellings.

The Principal Planning Officer reported the following:

• Whitchurch Parish Council comments were omitted from the report.

“The Parish Council objects to the application, for the following reasons:-

1) ACCESS:- The new access on to the existing highway would reduce the width of the highway, thereby increasing road safety problems in a busy road.

2) DRAINAGE/SEWERAGE:- The current rain water/sewerage system in the village is already overloaded and has been known to flood into the village street.  An additional 12 dwellings in this area would exacerbate this problem.

3) DENSITY:- The proposed density of housing is deemed inappropriate.  If there is to be development, a scaled down proposal, with bungalows, rather than houses, would be more appropriate and lessen the impact on surrounding properties.

4) DESIGN:- The windows of the proposed new properties directly overlook existing homes and would also block light to those homes.

5) CAR PARKING:- Car parking arrangements for the likely car-owning occupants of and visitors to the proposed new homes, do not appear to be adequate.

6) CHILDREN’S PLAY AREA:- The proximity of the children’s play area to the site access would cause road safety problems, both for the children using the area on foot, and the parents from other areas of the parish, needing to park their cars by the play area.

7) MEASUREMENTS:- There is concern over the accuracy of measurements relating to the access.

8) ENVIRONMENTAL:- The environmental impact of such a large development, would be detrimental to the wellbeing of local residents, e.g. visual impact, additional noise, increase in traffic, as well as light restriction.

9) SITE MEETING:- It is requested that this application be considered by the Southern Planning Committee, and that the members of that Committee hold a site meeting, prior to consideration of this application.”

• One further letter of objection from a local resident has been received.

• Applicant’s agent has forwarded amended layout plans showing trees to be retained and revisions to the house for Plot 4.

• The applicant’s drainage/highway engineers have confirmed that agreement has been reached with the Council regarding highway requirements and that further drainage information do meet outstanding concerns is being prepared.

• The plots referred to in the draft Heads of Terms should be 9-12 not 8-11.

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking, Mr. Williams, representing Whitchurch Parish Council, and Mr. Elphick and Mr. Burchell, two local residents, spoke in objection to the application.

Councillor R.H. Smith accepted that the site required development but had a number of reservations regarding the current proposals. He felt that there were too many issues unresolved and that members required more information before determining the application. He felt that the application was contrary to policies HBA4, DR4, and DR7 of the Unitary Development Plan. He felt that the application required an environmental impact study to satisfy policy DR4, and that a flood risk assessment was required in policy DR7.

RESOLVED

That:   (i)    The Southern Area Planning Sub-Committee is minded to refuse the application subject to the reasons for refusal set out below (and any further reasons for refusal felt to be necessary by the Head of Planning Services) provided that the Head of Planning Services does not refer the application to the Planning Committee:

A)Contrary to policies HBA4, DR4, and DR7 of the Unitary Development Plan

B)Detrimental to the character of the area    

(ii)   If the Head of Planning Services does not refer the application to the Planning Committee, Officers named in the Scheme of Delegation to Officers be instructed to refuse the application subject to such reasons for refusal referred to above.

[Note:            Following the vote on this application, the Development Control Manager advised that he would not refer the decision to the Head of Planning Services.]