Issue - meetings

Variation of Condition 2 (accordance with approved plans) following consent of planning permission HGY/2014/0511 to revise the design of the houses.

RECOMMENDATION: grant permission subject to conditions.

The Committee considered a report on the application to grant planning permission for the variation of condition 2 (accordance with approved plans) following consent of planning permission HGY/2014/0511 to revise the design of the houses. 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 consisting of an amendment to an approved scheme.

Cllr Newton addressed the Committee as a local ward councillor and raised the following points:

·         The design was boxy and intrusive and would result in overlooking to neighbouring properties.

·         The access way to the site was the primary access pathway used by Tetherdown School pupils. Increased vehicle movements due to the scheme would be dangerous for pedestrians, particularly unaccompanied children, concerns over which had been raised by the School.

The Committee were reminded by the legal officer that the merits of the original scheme could not be revisited under the current application for variation as the principles had been accepted in the granting of the original permission.

A number of objectors addressed the Committee and raised the following points:

·         Concerns were raised over the obtrusive profile and visual massing of the new design, the flat roof ‘boxy’ appearance and the close proximity to neighbouring gardens and subsequent noise pollution.   

·         Details had not been provided on a replacement for the mooted wooden cladding

·         The Planning Inspector’s view at the last appeal on the first floor windows and balconies to the north and west elevations being unreasonable should be respected.

·         The plans still contained first floor box glass windows which it had been stated were due for removal. It was requested that rear facing first floor windows be obscured for privacy.

·         It was requested that clear boundaries to the rear of the scheme be established via survey and the 2m high fence be measured from the adjacent garden to take into account a slope on the site.

·         Letters notifying of the Planning Committee meeting had been sent out during school holidays and had not been received by all respondents to the consultation which was undemocratic and a breach of procedure.

·         The developers had purchased the neighbouring toilet block leading to concern over the future expansion of the scheme.

·         The impact of the scheme on the safety of pedestrians, including pupils from three local schools, using the narrow, one car width, access path had not been fully considered. 

Officers affirmed that the first floor box windows should have been removed from the plans and had been included within the report in error. It was also advised that notification letters for the Committee had been sent out inline with procedure including a copy posted to the School. Three representations had been received in response to the current application, two of which did not list an address to send a notification letter to. Officers  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13