Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Alan Hill (substituted by Cllr Chuck Berry) and Peter Hutton.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on (copy herewith).

The Democratic Services Officer briefed members on an amendment to the minutes clarifying that the views expressed by Cllr Toby Sturgis at Minute No. 113c were his own, and not representative of those of the local member, Cllr Carole Soden, and it was,

Resolved:

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 13 October 2010  as a correct record, subject to the following amendment to Minute No 113c:-

‘On hearing the views of Cllr Toby Sturgis, speaking as Councillor for the adjoining Division, who spoke in support of the application ….’

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

Councillor Tony Trotman declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Minute No 121f (Hill Brook House, amendment to application ref 04/03639/FUL) owing to his close family relationship to the applicant, and agreed to leave the room for the duration of this item, at which time the remaining members would elect a replacement to chair the item.

There were no Chairman’s announcements.

Members of the public who wish to speak either in favour or against an application on this agenda are asked to register in person no later than 5:50pm on the day of the meeting.

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

Members of the public addressed the Committee as set out in Minute No. 121 below.

An appeals update report is attached for information.

The Committee received and noted a report setting out:-

(i)                 details of forthcoming hearings and public enquiries between 03/11/2010 and 31/01/2011

(ii)               planning appeals received between 01/10/2010 and 20/10/2010

(iii)             planning appeals decided between 01/10/2010 and 20/10/2010

To consider and determine planning applications in the attached schedule.

The Committee received a presentation from the Case Officer setting out the main issues in respect of the application, recommending approval and drawing members’ attention to the late items.

The Committee then asked technical questions after which they received statements from members of the public expressing their views regarding this application as follows:

Mr A. J Cook, a local resident, spoke in opposition to the application.

Miss Emma Frampton, on behalf of Mrs Frampton, a local resident, spoke in opposition to the application.

Mr N Bollen, a local resident, spoke in opposition to the application.

Mr Giles Brockband, the agent, spoke in support of the application.

Cllr Tom Hall, of Colerne Parish Council, spoke in support of the application.

On hearing the views of Cllr Sheila Parker, the local member, who spoke in opposition in principle to the application, but recommended conditions should permission be granted, the Committee discussed the application with regard to the following key points:

-          Principle of development

-          Conversion of the building

-          Creation of local employment

-          Impact on highways

-          Impact on residential amenity

-          Impact on the AONB

On discussing the merits of the application, it was,

Resolved

To permit the application for the following reason:

The proposed conversion of this hangar is sympathetic to its character and the environment in which it is located and would preserve the natural beauty of the AONB. The provision of live/work units will diversify the employment offer at the site in comparison with the existing low density employment in the hangar. Due to the siting of the hangar it would not result in any overlooking or loss of privacy for adjacent residential units. Furthermore, views of the hangar and side and end elevations can be mitigated via landscaping. No noise and nuisance to the detriment of the amenities of existing or proposed residents would occur as a consequence of the development and it is not considered to be detrimental to highway safety. The proposal is thus considered to accord with Policies C3, C4, NE4, NE15, NE18, BD2 and BD6 of the Local Plan 2011.

And 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 on site until details of the roof of the hangar and external walling of the units have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. Development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.

REASON: In the interests of visual amenity and the character and appearance of the area.

POLICY-C3

3.      Prior to the commencement of the development hereby permitted, details of the following matters (in respect of which approval is expressly reserved) shall be submitted to, and approved in writing by, the local planning  ...  view the full minutes text for item 121a

The Committee received a presentation on behalf of the Case Officer setting out the main issues in respect of the application, which was recommended for approval, and drawing attention to the late items.

Members of the Committee then asked technical questions after which they received statements from members of the public expressing their views regarding this application as follows:

Mr Edward Drew, the applicant’s planning consultant, spoke in support of the application.

Cllr Pauline Lyons, of Box Parish Council, spoke in opposition to the application.

On hearing the views of Cllr Sheila Parker, the local member, who spoke in opposition to the application, and after discussion by the Committee it was,

Resolved:

To permit the application for the following reason:

The building is considered to be acceptable and will conserve the natural beauty of the area and preserve the openness of the Green Belt. The proposal is in accordance with Policies C3, NE1 and NE4 of the North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011.

And subject to the following conditions:

1.      The detached office, playroom and garden room hereby permitted shall be used wholly in conjunction with and ancillary to, the use of Stonecroft, Longsplatt, as a single dwellinghouse and shall not be used as a separate dwelling.

REASON: In the interest of residential amenity.

2.      The development shall be implemented in accordance with the documents and plans submitted with the planning application listed below. No variation from the approved documents should be made without the prior approval of this Council.

Plan References:

Drawings: Location Plan, Photographs, D & A Statement, No.King2a/A, No.King3a/A and No.King3p/H (Revised).

3.   Prior to the first use or occupation of the buildings hereby permitted all buildings identified on Drawing No KING3a/A shall be removed from the site as detailed in Design and Access Statement dated 31^st August 2010.

REASON: In the interests of visual amenity in accordance with Policy C3 of the North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011.

The Committee received a presentation on behalf of the Case Officer setting out the main issues in respect of the application, recommended for refusal, and drawing members’ attention to the late items.

There were no technical questions.

Mr Simon Nicholl, the applicant, spoke in support of the application.

On hearing the views of Cllr John Thomson, the local member, who spoke in support of the application, and after discussion by the Committee it was,

Resolved:

To delegate the decision to the Area Development Manager (North) to permit the application subject to conditions, for the following reason:

The proposed two storey extension would be an acceptable addition to the property and would preserve and enhance the character of the Luckington Conservation Area and the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and would not detract from the rural character of the surrounding area, and therefore complies with policies C3, H8, HE1 and NE4 of the North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011.

The Committee received a presentation on behalf of the Case Officer setting out the main issues in respect of the applications for both planning permission and listed building consent, which were both recommended for refusal, and drawing attention to the late items.

Members of the Committee then asked technical questions after which they received statements from members of the public expressing their views regarding this application as follows:

Mr Simon Chambers, the agent, spoke in support of the application.

On hearing the views of Cllr John Thomson, the local member, who spoke in support of the application and after discussion by the Committee it was,

Resolved:

That listed building consent be refused for the following reason:

1.            The proposal would cause harm to the curtilage-listed building by virtue of the alterations associated with reduction of the internal floor level, and introduction of the lean-to extension and 4 no. roof lights to the “front” (South West) elevation. The proposed alterations would not preserve the special historic interest of the listen building. It would therefore not be in accordance with the Planning (Listed Building and Conservation Area) Act 1990 or guidance set out in PPS5.

And that planning permission be refused for the following reasons:

1.            The proposal is tantamount to a new dwelling in the open countryside. It is in a location considered to be remote from local facilities and would not promote sustainable patterns of transport. It is contrary to policy H4 in the North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011.

2.            The proposal includes a substantial extension and intervention to the building. Insufficient information has been submitted to justify why the building could not be converted to other ‘preferred’ uses identifies in the supporting paragraphs to Policy BD6. The proposal is therefore contrary to policy BD6.i, ii and iii in the North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011.

3.            The proposal would cause harm to the curtilage-listed building by virtue of the alterations associated with reduction of the internal floor level, and introduction of the lean-to extension and 4 no. roof lights to the “front” (South West) elevation. It is therefore contrary to policy HE4 in the North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011 and the advice contained in PPS5.

The Committee received a presentation on behalf of the Case Officer setting out the main issues in respect of the application, which was recommended for approval, and drawing attention to the late items.

There were no technical questions or public speakers on the item.

The Committee discussed the application and it was,

Resolved:

That the application be approved for the following reason:

The proposed development would respect the character of both the host dwelling and the surrounding area and would not result in any significant overlooking or overshadowing of neighbouring properties. The proposal would therefore accord with policies C3, H8, HE4 and NE15 of the adopted North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011.

And 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 Acts 1990 as amended by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

2.            The materials to be used in the construction of the external surfaces of the development hereby permitted shall match in material, colour and texture those used in the existing building.

REASON: In the interests of visual amenity and the character and appearance of the area.

POLICIES: C3, NE15, H8 and HE4 of the adopted North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011.

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

-    Location plan

-    2010/1 – Plans and Elevations as Exist

-    2010/2 – Proposed Plans and Elevations

-    2010/3 – Site Plan, Proposed

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

4.      Notwithstanding the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (as amended by the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) (No.2) (England) Order 2008 (or any Order revoking or re-enacting or amending that Order with or without modification), the garage(s) hereby permitted shall not be converted to habitable accommodation.

REASON:  To safeguard the amenities and character of the area and in the interest of highway safety

(i)   Councillor Tony Trotman announced his personal and prejudicial interest in this item and left the room.

The remaining members were then invited to elect a replacement chair for the item and following nominations and voting it was,

Resolved:

That Cllr Peter Davis should act as Chair for this item.

(ii)   The Committee received a report on behalf of the Case Officer setting out the main issues in respect of the application, which was recommended for refusal, and drew members’ attention to the late items.

Members of the Committee then asked technical questions after which they received statements from members of the public expressing their views regarding this application as follows:

Miss Zoe Kelly, a local resident, spoke in opposition to the application.

Mr Spiller, a local resident, spoke in opposition to the application.

Mr Robert Willis, the application, spoke in support of the application.

Mr Tim Weeding, the agent, spoke in support of the application.

The Committee then discussed the application and it was,

Resolved:

(1)       To defer the application until the next Committee meeting to allow the applicant to produce drawings showing the reduction in ridge height of the middle (single storey) section of the proposed dwelling by the equivalent of ‘one block height’.

(2)       To delegate authority to the Area Development Manager to refuse the application for the reasons set out in the officer’s report should the revised drawings not be received by Tuesday 9 November 2010.

Councillor Tony Trotman rejoined the Committee as Chair.

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.