Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.   The membership of the committee was noted.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 18 April 2013 (copy herewith).

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 April 2013 were presented.  Two amendments were requested:

Minute 36b – To add ‘Members expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of the presentation which was felt to be inadequate for the subject’.

Minute 39 to insert the word ‘future’ prior to ‘enforcement on the site’.

Resolved:

To approve as a correct record and sign the minutes subject to the following alterations.

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

There were no declarations of interest.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the first meeting of the new Council and explained the meeting procedure to the members of the public.

Site visits were requested should the following applications come to committee:

13/00202/FUL – Land at Wet Lane, Mere.

The Old Laundry at Shrewton

The Grange at Winterbourne Earls

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 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 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. The rules on public participation in respect of planning applications are detailed in the Council’s Planning Code of Good Practice.

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 Thursday 16 May 2013. 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.

To receive details of completed and pending appeals.

The committee received details of the appeal decisions as detailed in the agenda.

Mr J Humphrey spoke in objection to the application

Mrs E Soar spoke in objection to the application

Mr R Soar spoke in objection to the application

Mr G Jones spoke in support of the application

Mr G Rasch spoke in support of the application

Cllr Mike Hewitt, local member, expressed concerns about highway safety and drainage issues.

The Planning Officer introduced the report which was recommended for approval.  It was explained that the application was to create a new access on to the road directly off the site and that Highways had no objections subject to two conditions being added.

Members debated the issue and raised concerns over highway safety and drainage, and whether the development was essential due to there being an existing access.

It was

RESOLVED

To refuse the application for the following reasons:

The development proposes a new vehicular access to serve an existing pheasant rearing shed and associated yard. The access would be sited on the outside of a bend where views of emerging vehicles would be partially obscured to users of the highway, and the applicant has not satisfactorily demonstrated that surface water could be adequately dealt with so as to prevent its discharge onto the highway. Furthermore, it is not considered that the proposed access is essential or necessary development within the countryside, on the basis that the site has historically been accessed by alternative means which is still available for use by the applicant. Consequently the proposed access would be detrimental to highways safety and would not comprise essential development within the countryside, contrary to Local Plan policies G2(i) and C20 (as saved within the South Wiltshire Core Strategy).

Public participation

Ms K Henderson spoke in objection to the application

Mr D Brady spoke in objection to the application

Ms W Barrett spoke in objection to the application

Mr P Stevens spoke in support of the application

Cllr D Watson of Steeple Langford Parish Council spoke in objection to the application.

Cllr Ian West, local member, expressed concerns about impact on the conservation area and the setting of the listed church.

The Planning officer introduced the report which was recommended for approval.  The application was for the erection of a two storey dwelling. 

During the debate concerns were raised regarding the bulk of the development, the effect it would have on the listed church and the general design of the building.

It was

RESOLVED

To refuse the application for the following reasons:

1)    The proposed development site comprises an important open space within the Steeple Langford Conservation Area and Housing Restraint Area, which also contributes to the setting of a grade I listed parish church. The proposed development would significantly erode this open space, reducing the open character to this part of the streetscene and obscuring important views of the parish church, to the detriment of the character of the area and setting of the listed building. The development would therefore be contrary to Local Plan policies CN5, CN8, CN10, CN11, and H19 (as saved within the adopted South Wiltshire Core Strategy).

2)    The development has not made adequate provision towards affordable housing or public open space, and would therefore be contrary to Core Policy 3 of the adopted South Wiltshire Core Strategy and Local Plan policy R2 (as saved within the adopted South Wiltshire Core Strategy).

Public participation

Mr John Dale spoke in support of the application

Cllr E Hartford, on behalf of Alderbury Parish Council, spoke in objection to the application.

Cllr Richard Britton, local member, spoke in objection to the application.

The Planning Officer introduced the report which was recommended for approval.  The application was for alterations and extension to the existing dwelling and a replacement garage.

During the debate concerns were raised regarding the size of the development in relation to the plot.

It was

RESOLVED

That the application be refused for the following reasons:

The application site comprises a relatively small and awkward parcel of 'backland' positioned within a close-knit group of established residential properties.  The site is presently occupied by a modest single storey dwelling and single storey garage.  The proposal is to substantially enlarge the existing dwelling at both ground and first floor and to replace the existing garage with a significantly larger two storey building.  In view of the limitations of the site in terms of its size, shape and relationship with neighbouring properties, these proposed extensions and alterations, by reason of their scale, design and layout, would appear cramped and contrived and so incompatible with the surroundings. In particular, the raised eaves and extended ridgeline of the proposed enlarged dwelling would result in an uncharacteristically dominant structure, contrary to the otherwise spacious character of the area; and the new garage, by reason of its size, close proximity to the dwelling and boundaries, and awkward roof design, would sit uncomfortably on the plot. The overall design of the proposed development has not been appropriately integrated into the surroundings, to the detriment of the area in general.

This is contrary to Policies D1(iv), D3, G2 and H16 of the Salisbury District Local Plan (which are 'saved' policies set out in the adopted South Wiltshire Core Strategy).

Public participation

Mrs V Gallop spoke in support of the application

Mr M Hewitt spoke in support of the application

Cllr M Brunton, Chair of Allington Parish Council, spoke in support of the application.

The local member, Cllr John Smale, spoke in support of the application.

The Planning Officer introduced the report which was recommended for refusal.

During the debate the issue of the proposed dwelling being outside the housing policy boundary was discussed in detail.

It was

RESOLVED

That subject to the applicant entering into a S106 agreement to secure financial contributions towards recreational open space and affordable housing

That the application be granted for the following reasons:

The Council is required to give a summary of the reasons for this decision and its conditions, and a summary of the development plan policies and proposals relevant to the decision and its conditions. These are set out below:

The decision to grant planning permission has been taken on the grounds that the proposed development would not cause any significant harm to interests of acknowledged importance and having regard to saved policies G1, D2, G2, C6, TR11, R2 and H23 of the Salisbury District Local Plan (which are ‘saved’ policies of the adopted South Wiltshire Core Strategy), Core Policy 1 and Core Policy 3 of the South Wiltshire Core Strategy and paragraphs 49, 56, 64 and 47 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

In accordance with paragraph 187 of the National Planning Policy Framework, Wiltshire Council has worked proactively to secure this development to improve the economic, social and environmental conditions of the area.

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 and samples of the materials to be used for the external walls and roofs 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.

Policies:  Saved policies G1 (Principles of sustainable development), G2 (General Criteria for Development), C6 (Development in the countryside which falls within the Special Landscape Area) and D2 (Infill development) of The Salisbury District Local Plan (which are ‘saved’ policies of the adopted South Wiltshire Core Strategy).

3.No delivery of plant, equipment, materials, demolition or construction work or other building activity shall take place on Sundays or public holidays or outside the hours of 0800 & 1800 Monday to Friday and 0800 & 1300 on Saturdays.

Reason:  In the interests of residential amenity.

Policy:  Saved policy G2 (General Criteria for Development) of The Salisbury District Local Plan (which is a ‘saved’ policy of the adopted South Wiltshire Core Strategy).

4.No development shall commence until details of a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46d

Public participation

Mr J Hill spoke in support of the application

Mr M Hewitt spoke in support of the application

Cllr M Brunton, Chair of Allington Parish Council, spoke in support of the application

Cllr John Smale, local member, spoke in support of the application.

The Planning Officer introduced the report which was recommended for refusal and explained it was similar to the previous application, being outside the housing policy boundary.

During the debate issues regarding site access and the housing policy boundary were discussed.

It was

RESOLVED

That subject to the applicant entering into a S106 agreement to secure financial contributions towards recreational open space and affordable housing

To approve the application for the following reasons:

The site is situated just outside of the Housing Policy Boundary, but it is visually well related to the settlement limits and would fulfil a local need for modest housing growth within Allington, without harming the character of the settlement or surrounding countryside. The decision to grant planning permission has been taken on the grounds that the proposed development would not cause any significant harm to interests of acknowledged importance and having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and the following policies in the South Wiltshire Core Strategy, namely saved Local Plan policies G1, G2, G5, D2, C6, TR11, TR14, R2 and Core Policies 1 and 3.

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)    The development shall only be undertaken in accordance with the following approved plans:

Plan Ref….1:500 Site Layout Plan...           Dated….25.09.12….

Plan Ref….H/02/12...                                Dated….Nov. 2012….

Reason: For the avoidance of doubt.

3)    Before development is commenced, a schedule of materials and finishes, and, where so required by the Local Planning Authority, samples of such materials and finishes, to be used for the external wall[s] and roof[s] of the proposed development shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. Development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.

Reason: To secure a harmonious form of development.

4)    No development shall commence on site until details of the proposed ground floor slab levels have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved levels details.

Reason: In the interests of visual amenity.

5)    No development shall commence on site until a scheme of hard and soft landscaping has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority, the details of which shall include:

(a) details of any trees and hedgerows to be retained, together with measures for their protection in the course of development;

(b) details of new trees and planting, including species;

(c  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46e