Agenda item

Public Participation

Nick Allerton spoke in objection to the application.

Nicola Allerton spoke in objection to the application.

Ros Liddington spoke in objection to the application.

David Sharp spoke in support to the application.

The Planning Officer presented his report to the Committee which recommended that permission be grantedsubject to conditions.

Members of the Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions of the officer. The definition of subservient was clarified. The number of flats and number of parking places was stated.

An item of late correspondence was circulated at the meeting.

The Local Member, Cllr Ian Tomes, provided a written notice which Cllr John Walsh read on his behalf. Cllr Tomes believed this was overdevelopment of the site. The statement referred to the impact on neighbouring amenities and the access to the site. Cllr Tomes made reference to the consequences of extra cars being parked at the site and the potential for conflict and strain on neighbours. The impact on the conservation area was also highlighted.

Members discussed the surrounding location of the site and the potential for overdevelopment. Concerns were raised in regards to parking and the impact of additional vehicles. The removal of trees on the site was also discussed. The need to maintain the character of the area was emphasised by Members. A lack of parking locally - due to double yellow lines - was stated. Members debated the impact on neighbouring properties. The locality of the site to public transport stations was raised and the sustainability of the proposal was discussed. The unenforceable nature of car parking on the private road was highlighted. The scale of the proposed development was seen as being too great by some members.

Landscaping concerns were also raised, as well as the impact on the conservation area. Discussions continued to the practicalities of living at the site and the likely difficulties of entering, turning around and leaving The Crescent. Members raised the need for the replacement of a bank of earth that had been removed.

Resolved:

To REFUSE planning permission for the following reasons:

1.         The proposed development, by reason of its size (height and width), the amount of excavation works/tree removal required to enable the development, and the number of additional residential units created at the site, would result in a cramped form of overdevelopment for this small, narrow parcel of land, which would be harmful to the character of the existing property, the semi-detached pairing and the wider Crescent which is designated as a Conservation Area. As such the proposal is considered to be contrary to Core Policies 57 and 58 of the Wiltshire Core Strategy.

2.         The proposed development, by reason of its location at the top of a narrow and congested private driveway with limited parking for motorised vehicles, would provide insufficient parking for future occupiers of the site, and is likely to result in unauthorised parking and obstruction on-and-around the existing parking spaces/ the vehicular access leading to the site. The scheme is therefore considered to result in an adverse impact on the amenities of properties along the Crescent, contrary to Policy 57 of the Wiltshire Core Strategy.