Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

Apologies were received from:

Cllr Stewart Dobson

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 6 August 2015.

Resolved

To approve and sign as a true and correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 6 August 2015.

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

Cllr Nick Fogg declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 7c. Cllr Fogg had come into contact with the applicant in his position as a town councillor. Cllr Fogg stated he would consider the application before him with an open mind.

Cllr Richard Gamble declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 7c. Cllr Gamble was a former resident of Avebury and knew a family involved in the application and was familiar with the site. For this item Cllr Gamble abstained from voting.

To receive any announcements through the Chair.

There were no 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 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 20 August 2015. 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.

None.

To receive details of the completed and pending appeals.

None.

To consider and determine the following planning applications.

Public Participation

Mrs Jenny Warren spoke in objection to the application.

Mr Nick Seager spoke in objection to the application.

Mr Howard Waters spoke in support of the application.

The senior planning officer introduced the report which recommended that planning permission be granted subject to conditions. Key issues were stated as including the principle of the development of three new dwellings to the rear of the existing buildings; the potential for impact on the amenity of neighbouring properties; and the potential impact on the historic fabric, character and setting of the listed building and the conservation area.

Members of the Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions of the officer. Access during construction was explained as being through the pedestrian access route adjacent to the site. This was clarified as the route materials would be removed and brought in through. It was explained that a construction statement was requested in the conditions, which would include details of construction times. Fire sprinklers were not included as a possible condition as issues over internal fixtures were for consideration by building control.

Members of the public then had the opportunity to present their views to the Committee, as detailed above.

The unitary division member, Cllr Sue Evans, then spoke to the application. Concerns were raised over obstruction to the Market Place, the over-development of a small restricted site, and a lack of sunlight to the proposed building. It was also stated that the housing quota within the Devizes Neighbourhood Plan had already been met and exceeded.

A debate followed where the proposed design was considered, along with the condition of the wall to the rear of the development. The state of the current dilapidated building on the brownfields site was discussed. The Committee considered the policies of the Devizes Neighbourhood Plan. An informative on preserving and enhancing the wall to the rear of the proposed development was considered. Concerns over the over-development of the site and access for demolition and construction were debated.

At the conclusion of debate it was

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.     Notwithstanding the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (or any Order revoking or re-enacting or amending those Orders with or without modification), no development within Part 1, Classes A-H shall take place on the dwellings hereby permitted or within their curtilage without the prior grant of planning permission by the local planning authority.

REASON: In the interests of the amenity of the area and to enable the Local Planning Authority to consider individually whether planning permission should be granted for additions, extensions or enlargements.

3.     The development shall be constructed in strict accordance with the recommendations  ...  view the full minutes text for item 64.

Public Participation

Mrs Ann Stevens spoke in objection to the application.

Mr Howard Waters spoke in support of the application.

The senior planning officer introduced the report which recommended that permissions be granted subject to conditions. Key issues were stated as including the potential impact on the historic fabric, character and setting of the listed building and the conservation area.

Members of the Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions of the officer.

Members of the public then had the opportunity to present their views to the Committee, as detailed above.

A debate followed where Core Policy 58 was discussed. The response from the conservation officer was also considered.

At the conclusion of debate it was

Resolved

To grant permission subject to the following conditions:

1.     The works for which Listed Building Consent is hereby granted shall be begun before the expiration of three years from the date of this consent.

REASON: To comply with the provisions of Section 18 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

2.     No development shall commence on site until the details and, where requested, 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: The application contained insufficient information to enable this matter to be considered prior to granting planning permission and the matter is required to be agreed with the Local Planning Authority before development commences in order that the development is undertaken in an acceptable manner, in the interests of visual amenity and the character and appearance of the area and on the listed buildings.

3.     Notwithstanding the approved drawings, no works shall commence on the new works until details of the following have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority:

·       Large scale details of all external joinery including(1:5 elevation, 1:2 section) including vertical and horizontal cross-sections through openings to show the positions of joinery within openings, depth of reveal,  heads, cills and lintels;

·       Full details of external flues, background and mechanical ventilation, soil/vent pipes and their exits to the open air;

·       A full schedule and specification of repairs to the boundary wall;

The works shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.

REASON: The application contained insufficient information to enable this matter to be considered prior to granting planning permission and listed building consent the matter is required to be agreed with the Local Planning Authority before development commences in order that the development is undertaken in an acceptable manner, in the interests of preserving the character and appearance of the listed building and its setting.

4.     The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the application form, Heritage Statement (and Design and Access Statement) (MWA 13111 Rev A) (dated 2^nd June 2015), Structural Report (dated 29  ...  view the full minutes text for item 65.

Public Participation

Mr Tony Iles spoke in support of the application.

Mr Laurence Wills spoke in support of the application.

The planning officer introduced the report which recommended that permission be refused. Key issues were stated as including the principle of a new dwelling of this size within the North Wessex Downs area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB), and the size and impact of the dwelling proposed upon the rural character and landscape of the area.

A correction in the report was noted. The figure of 1hectare on page 45 of the agenda should read 0.72hectares.

Members of the Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions of the officer. It was explained that once a dwelling has been demolished, all planning permission associated with that building is lost. The undemolished thatched building at the east end of the site was clarified as being a small out-building which would remain.

Members of the public then had the opportunity to present their views to the Committee, as detailed above.

The unitary division member, Cllr Jemima Milton, then spoke to the application. Cllr Milton explained that no neighbours had objected to the application, and that the AONB had not commented on the application. It was also explained that the site was of a large nature and was well hidden by surrounding tree cover

A debate followed where the size of the proposed development in comparison to the previously existing building was considered. The design of the proposed building was also discussed.

Resolved

To refuse the application for the following reasons:

1)    Whilst there was previously a cottage on the site, and the site retains a residential character, the dwelling would be significantly larger than the previous cottage and being in an elevated and relatively exposed position, would, due to its design and scale, be detrimental to the openness and rural character and landscape of the area, contrary to Wiltshire Core Strategy Core Polices 51 and 57, and due to its much larger size than the previous dwelling on the site, would conflict with the requirement of policy HC25 of the Kennet Local Plan, as saved by the Wiltshire Core Strategy. There are no material circumstances sufficient to justify approval of the application contrary to the development plan.

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