Issue - meetings

Closure of existing access and formation of new access and associated works.

RECOMMENDATION: Grant permission subject to conditions.

The Committee considered a report, previously circulated, which set out details of the application, the site and surroundings, planning history, relevant planning policy, consultation and responses and analysis. The report recommended that the application be granted, subject to conditions. The Planning Officer gave a presentation highlighting key elements of the report, and responded to questions from the Committee.

In response to a question from the Committee regarding the Planning Inspector’s view that a crossover at the site proposed would not pose a hazard in respect of road safety, and whether this was still valid, Maurice Richards, Transport, advised that the data with regards to road safety at that site had been looked into and it was not felt that there was any safety implication. It was also confirmed, in response to a question from the Committee, that there was no issue in respect of the ground level at the site of the hard standing. The Committee asked about the scope for planting between the parking area and Parkland Walk, in response to which it was confirmed that planting could be undertaken by the applicant, but that the difference in ground level and existing fence between the site and Parkland Walk meant that the parking area was currently not visible from Parkland Walk.

Cllr Jim Jenks addressed the Committee on behalf of local residents, and expressed concern at the proposal when previous applications for similar works had been refused. The Planning Inspector had stated that the retention of access at the current location was harmful to the character and appearance of the area and that use of the hard standing area for off street parking would further harm the appearance of the area and street scene. It was also reported that objections made by the Cranley Gardens Residents’ Association had been omitted from the report. Cllr Jenks advised that the proposal would contribute to an erosion of open space in the area and asked the Committee not to grant the application.

A local resident, Ms Sutton-Klein assisted Cllr Jenks in responding to questions from the Committee. In response to a question regarding the nature of the appeal considered by the Planning Inspector in March 2011, it was reported that it was a very similar scheme to the current application, for the retention of the western access, closure of the eastern gate and associated works, including hard standing and parking. The Committee asked the nature of the objections from the Cranley Gardens Residents’ Association which were reportedly omitted from the report, in response to which it was advised that these clarified the comments of the Planning Inspector. Ms Sutton-Klein advised that residents’ original objections to the new houses on the site had been addressed by means of assurances regarding the soft landscaping, which were now not being met.

Colin Marr, representing an informal campaign group opposed to crossovers across the borough, addressed the Committee and stated that the four large houses on the site had very limited garden amenity, and that this  ...  view the full minutes text for item 79