Erection of 2 no. proposed dwellings with adjoining garages.

Erection of 2 no. proposed dwellings with adjoining garages.

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking, Mr. Eagles spoke in support of the application.

In response to a comment raised by the speaker, the Central Team Leader confirmed that the site was in open countryside and there was a strong policy presumption against residential development.

Councillor W.J.S. Thomas outlined the planning history of the site and noted that the objection based on the delivery of the proposed Rotherwas Access Road had been overcome.  He felt that the extenuating circumstances of the proposal outweighed the policy objections and he supported the application.

Councillor A.C.R. Chappell noted that Lower Bullingham Parish Council had no objections and felt that, through the removal of the scrap cars, the proposal would result in an enhancement of the wider landscape.

Councillor D.B. Wilcox noted that the site was in open countryside in policy terms but was a blot on the landscape in pragmatic terms.  In response to a question, the Central Team Leader confirmed that the proposal was sited away from the approved line of the Access Road.

In response to a question from Councillor R.M. Wilson, the Central Team Leader clarified the areas which would be cleared of scrap cars and advised that the reinstatement of the land and associated landscaping would be controlled through conditions should Members be minded to approve the application.  The Chairman suggested that the dwellings should not be occupied before the clearance of the whole site.  A number of Members supported this suggestion.  The Central Team Leader advised that an appropriate timescale for the clearance could be negotiated with the applicant in consultation with the Local Ward Member and the Chairman.

RESOLVED:

That    (i) The Central Area Planning Sub-Committee is minded to approve the application subject to the conditions below (and any further conditions felt to be necessary by the Development Control Manager) provided that the Development Control Manager does not refer the application to the Planning Committee.

1. The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission.

    Reason: Required to be imposed by Section 91 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

2. The development shall be carried out in all respects strictly in accordance with the approved plans unless otherwise agreed in writing with the local planning authority.

    Reason: To ensure adherence to the approved plans in the interests of a satisfactory form of development in accordance with Policy GD1 of the South Herefordshire District Local Plan.

3. No development shall take place until details or samples of materials to be used externally on walls and roofs have been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority.  Development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.

    Reason: To ensure that the materials harmonise with the surroundings in accordance with Policies GD1, C1 and C8 of the South Herefordshire DIstrict Local Plan.

4. None of the dwellings shall be occupied until works for the disposal of sewage and surface water have been provided on the site to serve the development hereby permitted, in accordance with details submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority.

    Reason: In order to ensure that satisfactory drainage arrangements are provided.

5. No development approved by this permission shall be occupied until and unless otherwise agreed in writing by the local planning authority:

(i)           The application site has been subject to a detailed scheme for the investigation and recording of contamination and remediation objectives have been determined through risk assessment and agreed in writing with the local planning authority;

(ii)         Detailed proposals for the removal, containment or otherwise rendering harmless any contamination (the Reclamation Method Statement) have been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority;

(iii)       The works specified in the Reclamation Method Statement have been completed in accordance with the approved scheme.

    If during reclamation works any contamination is identified that has not been considered in the Reclamation Method Statement, then remediation proposals for this material shall be agreed in writing with the local planning authority.

    Reason: To ensure that potential contamination is removed or contained to the satisfaction of the local planning authority.

6. No development shall take place until there has been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority a scheme for the complete clearance of the scrap cars within the land identified in blue on the approved plan; and a scheme of landscaping, which shall include indications of all existing trees and hedgerows on the land and details of any to be retained, together with measures for their protection in the course of the approved works.  All proposed planting shall be clearly described with species, sizes and planting numbers.

    Reason: In order to ensure the complete clearance of the site which is regarded as the exceptional circumstance justifying the development hereby approved and to protect the visual amenities of the area in accordance with Policies GD1, C1 and C8 of the South Herefordshire District Local Plan.

7. The clearance, restoration and landscaping comprised in the approved details of landscaping shall be carried out prior to the first occupation of the dwellings hereby approved, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the local planning authority and any trees or plants which within a period of 5 years from the completion of the development site are removed or become seriously damaged or diseased shall be replaced in the next planting season with others of similar size and species, unless the local planning authority gives written consent to any varieties.  If any plants fail more than once they shall continue to be replaced on an annual basis until the end of the 5 year defect period.

    Reason: In order to protect the visual amenities of the area in accordance with Policies GD1, C1 and C8 of the South Herefordshire District Local Plan.

8. The development hereby permitted shall not be brought into use until the access, turning area and parking facilities shown on the approved plan have been properly consolidated, surfaced, drained and otherwise constructed in accordance with details to be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority and these areas shall thereafter be retained and kept available for those uses at all times.

(ii)               If the Development Control Manager does not refer the application to the Planning Committee, Officers named in the Scheme of Delegation to Officers be instructed to approve the application subject to such conditions referred to above.

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