Issue - meetings

Erection of 3x single storey three bedroom houses

RECOMMENDATION: grant permission subject to conditions.

The Committee considered a report, deferred from the last Planning Committee meeting, on the application to grant planning permission for the land to the rear of 76 St James’s Lane N10 3RD for the erection of three single storey dwellings. 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 and confirmed that the report incorporated amended scale drawings and an appendix setting out officer comments to objections received as requested at the last Committee meeting. The Committee’s attention was also directed to a tabled copy of a Planning Inspectorate appeal report on the site which was dismissed on 19 August 2011.

A number of objectors addressed the Committee with concerns regarding the application and made the following points:

·        The plans did not portray the small size and slopping nature of the plot. It was considered that the site would more appropriately support two houses and would be cramped with the three houses proposed.

·        Concerns were raised about the loss of privacy and overlooking to neighbouring properties, particularly in relation to the proximity of the new houses to the northern boundary of the site. Additional concerns were raised that on-site measurements of the distances detailed on the drawings of the new houses to bordering properties had not been undertaken by the Planning Service. In response, the Planning Officer confirmed that the applicant’s plans had been verified against and found to be consistent with ordinance surveys for the area, and that  the distances set out within the plan to neighbouring properties were considered to be acceptable. The Chair also affirmed that the majority of the Committee had undertaken a visit to the site in preparation for the meeting.  

·        The potential for noise nuisance during construction works.

·        The suitability of the access road to support the development was questioned including the location of the access point on a bend, historic poor maintenance and the ability for emergency vehicles and dust carts to safely enter the site. In response, the Transport Officer confirmed that fire engines and dust carts would be able to access the development, facilitated with the provision of a turning head within the site. The Committee were also advised that the access road was outside of the planning site area and therefore could not be considered as  part of the application. 

Cllr Bloch addressed the Committee in relation to the application and supported the comments made by the objectors. He requested that consideration be given to imposing additional conditions covering landscaping screening, use of frosted windows and restrictions on future planning applications for the site. In response, officers confirmed that a condition was in place covering landscaping and that under the proposed design, windows to the new houses would be positioned to avoid overlooking. It was additionally confirmed that legally a condition  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23