Issue - meetings

Demolition of existing property and erection of new three storey dwelling with new basement level and retaining the current front façade.

RECOMMENDATION: grant permission subject to conditions.

The Committee considered a report, previously circulated, on the application to grant planning permission for 30 Denewood Road, N6 4AH. The report set out details of the proposal, the site and surroundings, planning history, relevant planning policy, consultation and responses, analysis, equalities and human rights implications and recommended to grant permission subject to conditions. The Planning Officer gave a short presentation highlighting the key aspects of the report. The attention of the Committee was drawn to a Planning Inspector appeal held on a previous application for the site for the erection of a 3 storey, 8 bedroom dwelling. It was noted that the Inspector had dismissed the appeal on the grounds that the application did not preserve the appearance of the Conservation Area but did not find that the proposal would have an adverse impact on the living conditions for neighbouring houses. Officers were now satisfied that the new design contained within the current application would not impact adversely on the Conservation Area.

Cllr Allison addressed the Committee in objection to the application and made the following comments:

·        That the new design wasted an opportunity to have a building on site that would positively enhance the Conservation Area

·        The substantial increase proposed to the footprint had the potential to detrimentally impact on neighbouring properties as well as the lime trees and amount of green space on the site. There were also concerns that the conditions imposed in this regard might not be properly enforced thereby not preventing irreversible damage being caused

·        Concerns had arisen from the last application that the house might potentially be run as a spa business and not a private dwelling

·        The questionable sustainability value of demolition of an existing functioning dwelling and erection of a replacement.

Mr Burrows, the applicant’s agent addressed the Committee and raised the following points:

·        That the current application remained inline with that which went before the Planning Inspector but with an amended design retaining the original façade to meet the comments made in the determination

·        The application had been amended to a more modest design following comments from the Council and local residents

·        Although there would be an increase to the massing of the dwelling, the overall scale and massing when viewed from the front would be largely as existing.

·        The impact of the development on trees on the site had been assessed as insignificant as supported by the Council’s tree officer and Planning Inspector.

In light of concerns raised by the objectors regarding the impact of the development on trees and green space on the site, it was agreed that condition 3 should be expanded to include soft as well as hard landscaping, thereby covering trees and plants on the site. It was also requested that condition 6 be extended in scope to cover any potential impact and mitigation of the development on ground water drainage in the area and for the applicant to provide wheel washing facilities for construction vehicles during the course of the build to reduce associated  ...  view the full minutes text for item 283