Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

Apologies were received from Cllr Chuck Berry.

Cllr Chuck Berry was substituted by Cllr Jacqui Lay.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 21^st March 2018.

The minutes of the meeting held on 21^st March 2018 were presented.

Resolved:

To approve as a true and correct record and sign the minutes.

To receive any declarations of disclosable interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

Cllr Toby Sturgis declared an interest in agenda item no. 7b as he was a member of County Farms, which adjoins the Equestrian Centre site. He declared he would participate in the debate and vote for the item with an open mind.

To receive any announcements through the Chair.

There were no Chairman’s announcements.

The Council welcomes contributions from members of the public.

Statements

Members of the public who wish to speak either in favour or against an application or any other item on this agenda are asked to register by phone, email or in person no later than 2.50pm on the day of the meeting.

The rules on public participation in respect of planning applications are detailed in the Council’s Planning Code of Good Practice. The Chairman will allow up to 3 speakers in favour and up to 3 speakers against an application and up to 3 speakers on any other item on this agenda. Each speaker will be given up to 3 minutes and invited to speak immediately prior to the item being considered.

Members of the public will have had the opportunity to make representations on the planning applications and to contact and lobby their local member and any other members of the planning committee prior to the meeting. Lobbying once the debate has started at the meeting is not permitted, including the circulation of new information, written or photographic which have not been verified by planning officers.

Questions

To receive any questions from members of the public or members of the Council received in accordance with the constitution which excludes, in particular, questions on non-determined planning applications.

Those wishing to ask questions are required to give notice of any such questions in writing to the officer named on the front of this agenda no later than 5pm on Wednesday 9^th May 2018 in order to be guaranteed of a written response. In order to receive a verbal response questions must be submitted no later than 5pm on Friday 11^th May 2018. Please contact the officer named on the front of this agenda for further advice. Questions may be asked without notice if the Chairman decides that the matter is urgent.

Details of any questions received will be circulated to Committee members prior to the meeting and made available at the meeting and on the Council’s website.

The Committee noted the rules on public participation.

To receive details of completed and pending appeals and other updates as appropriate.

The Committee noted the contents of the appeals update.

To consider and determine the following planning applications:

To consider and determine the following planning applications:

Public Participation

Sheila Copeman, Governor Hardenhuish School, Chippenham, spoke in objection to the application.

Graham Smithson, local resident, spoke in objection to the application.

Ian O’Gorman, applicant, spoke in support of the application.

Richard Stephens, GreenSquare Group Ltd, spoke in support of the application.

Nina Phillips, Chippenham Town Council, spoke in objection to the application.

The Planning Officer, Charmian Eyre-Walker, introduced a report which recommended granting planning permission, subject to conditions, for the construction of 35 100% affordable dwellings with associated car parking, hard and soft landscaping, and a new Lidl Neighbourhood Discount Foodstore, with associated car parking, landscaping and access arrangements.

Key issues highlighted included, principle of the development, impact on town centre vitality and viability, impact on highway safety and convenience, design, drainage and impact on heritage assets. The Officer drew attention to received Late Observations and a need to vary the recommended condition relating the necessary legal agreement to include contributions towards waste and recycling facilities.

Members of the Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions of the officer which focused on: the impact of the developments on the surrounding highway and the impact of the proposed zebra crossing in directing school children away from the site.

Members of the public then had the opportunity to address the Committee, as detailed above.

Councillor Andy Phillips, Division Member, spoke in objection to the application with the main points focusing on: the impact and location of the GreenSquare application on the surrounding area, access onto Hungerdown Lane and conflict with pedestrians in particular school children, support for the Hardenhuish School campaign for a crossing and reduced speed limit, the capacity of the Hathaway Wedical Centre car park.  

At the start of the debate a proposal was moved by Councillor Tony Trotman and seconded by Councillor Toby Sturgis to grant planning permission as detailed in the report, taking into account the amended and additional conditions detailed in the late observations report. During the debate the main points raised were: traffic congestion would be evenly spread throughout the opening hours of the store, based on the observations of other Lidl sites, limited conflict with early morning or early evening rush hour, the offer from Lidl was different to the offer of other town centre businesses and therefore the element of competition with the town centre would be very minimal, potential for congestion in the area, the need to limit construction vehicles along Hardenhuish lane, no street parking on the access to the residential development during construction, the need for routing plans for construction traffic and references to Core Policy 61, sub section G, point ii.

Resolved:

To Grant planning permission, subject to the following conditions:

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

REASON: To comply with the provisions of Section 91 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 as amended by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

2.     No development shall commence  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

Public Participation

Guy Rickett, local resident, spoke in objection to the application.

Alan Glasspool, Local resident, objecting to the application

Rosemary Greenway, supporting the application

Louise Jamieson, supporting the application

Ed Rudler – letter read out, supporting the application.

Peter Gantlett – Chair of Parish Council

The Case Officer, Victoria Griffin, introduced a report which recommended that planning permission be refused for the erection of 5 no. dwellings, parking, meadow and orchard (resubmission of 17/03393/FUL).

Key issues highlighted included, acceptability of proposal site being located outside of the defined settlement boundary and rural exceptions site, impact on historic setting, impact on visual amenities of the area, impact on ecology, impact on the residential amenity, impact on highway safety/sustainability, impact on drainage. The Planning Officer referred to the late observations report which included additional consultation responses and officer comment.

Members of the Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions of the officer which focused on: affordable housing in rural communities, Clyffe Pypard neighbourhood plan, and marketing of the equestrian business.  

Members of the public then had the opportunity to address the Committee, as detailed above.

Councillor Allison Bucknell, Division Member, spoke to the application with the main points focusing on: Planning policies and the ability to develop custome built home within a village setting.

At the start of the debate a proposal was moved by Councillor Gavin Grant and seconded by Councillor Christine Crisp to refuse planning permission as detailed in the report. During the debate the main points raised were: Ability to build custom built homes, paragraph 55 of the National planning Framework.

Resolved:

That planning permission be REFUSED for the following reasons:

1.    The proposed development is located outside of a designated settlement boundary and does not meet any of the exception criteria listed under paragraph 4.25 of the Wiltshire Core Strategy. As such the proposal fails to promote a sustainable pattern of development within the County and the harm associated to the development is not outweighed by the benefits. Therefore, the proposed development is considered contrary to Core Policies 1 & 2 of the Wiltshire Core Strategy, Saved Policy H4 of the North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011 and paragraphs 14 and 55 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

2.    The proposal located remote from services, employment opportunities and being unlikely to be well served by public transport is contrary to the key aims of Core Policy 60 and national sustainable transport guidance which seeks to reduce growth in the length and number of motorised journeys.

3.    The proposed development would, by reason of the size and scale of the proposed dwellings and associated residential paraphernalia result in unacceptable increase in the built form within the site resulting in harm to the visual amenities of the open countryside. Therefore, the development is contrary to Core Policy 51 and 57 of the Wiltshire Core Strategy.

4.    The site is located in close proximity to a known medieval settlement and the setting listed buildings. The application fails to adequately  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

Public Participation

Jon Llewellyn Architect – in support of the application

Ashley Juniper, Biddestone Parish Council, spoke in objection to the application.

The Case Officer, Chris Marsh, introduced a report which recommended planning permission be granted for the change of use to Use Class C3 residential including demolition of part derelict rear extension and new single storey rear and side extension. The Case Officer also referred to late observations which included neighbour representations and officers comments on these.

Key issues highlighted included, principle of development, impact on the character and appearance of the host building and its setting, impacts on local highways/parking, and impact on neighbour amenity.

Members of the Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions of the officer which focused on: Overlooking issues.

Members of the public then had the opportunity to address the Committee, as detailed above.

Councillor Toby Sturgis, on behalf of Cllr Baroness Jane Scott OBE, Division Member, spoke to the application with the main points focusing on: parking issues.

At the start of the debate a proposal was moved by Councillor Gavin Grant and seconded by Councillor Howard Greenman to grant planning permission as detailed in the report. During the debate the main points raised were: parking issues on the highway.

Resolved:

That planning permission is GRANTED, subject to the following conditions:

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

REASON: To comply with the provisions of Section 91 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 as amended by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

2.      The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans:

3010/38/P4A – Proposed Floor Plans

3010/38/P5A – Proposed Elevations

Received 8 May 2018

3010/38/P0 – Location Plan

3010/38/P3 – Proposed Site, Block & Roof Plan

Received 7 March 2018

REASON: For the avoidance of doubt and in the interests of proper planning.

3.      Notwithstanding the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (or any Order revoking or re-enacting or amending that Order with or without modification), no garages, sheds, greenhouses and other ancillary domestic outbuildings shall be erected anywhere on the site on the approved plans.

            REASON: To safeguard the character and appearance of the area.

4.      Notwithstanding the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (or any Order revoking or re-enacting or amending that Order with or without modification), there shall be no modification of the first floor configuration as shown on the approved plans at any time.

REASON: In the interests of residential amenity and privacy.

5.      INFORMATIVE TO APPLICANT:

Any alterations to the approved plans, brought about by compliance with Building Regulations or any other reason must first be agreed in writing with the Local Planning Authority before commencement of work.

6.      INFORMATIVE TO APPLICANT:

The applicant is requested to note that this permission does not affect any private property rights and therefore  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

Any other items of business which, in the opinion of the Chairman, should be taken as a matter of urgency.

There were no urgent items.