Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

Apologies were received from:

Cllr Ashley O’Neil

Cllr Nick Puntis

Cllr Jacqui Lay (substituted by Cllr Peter Hutton)

To approve as a true and correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 26 March 2025 .

The minutes of the meeting held on 26 March 2025 were presented.

Resolved:

To approve as a true and correct record the minutes for the meeting held on 26 March 2025 and sign the minutes.

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

There were no declarations of interest.

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 no later than 10 minutes before the start of the meeting. If it is on the day of the meeting registration should be done in person.

The rules on public participation in respect of planning applications are linked to 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 and others will have had the opportunity to make representations on planning applications and other items on the agenda, and to contact and lobby their local elected member and any other members of the planning committee, prior to the meeting.

Those circulating such information prior to the meeting, written or photographic, are advised to also provide a copy to the case officer for the application or item, in order to officially log the material as a representation, which will be verbally summarised at the meeting by the relevant officer, not included within any officer slide presentation if one is made. Circulation of new information which has not been verified by planning officers or case officers is also not permitted during the meetings.

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 April 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 April. 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.

Proposed alterations to the external appearance.

Public Participation

Cllr Allsop, representing Lydiard Millicent Parish Council spoke in support of the application.

Planning Officers introduced the report which recommended that the Committee approve planning permission, subject to conditions, for proposed alterations to the external appearance.

Members of the Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions to the officer, where none were raised.

The Committee then received statements from the public.

The local member Cllr Steve Bucknell also spoke in support of the application, making it clear the main reason for calling it in was for concern related to “the potential cumulative impact on the highway, drainage and amenity and a desire to see a comprehensive approach to redevelopment of the site – rather than the current piecemeal approach.”

During debate, the committee noted that the Parish Council supported the application.

Councillors wanted to ensure that the potential cumulative impact had been thoroughly assessed but were otherwise unopposed.

Councillors felt it important that there was proper record and methodology regarding cumulative impact.

During debate, a motion to approve was proposed by Cllr Peter Hutton and seconded by Cllr Steve Bucknell Grant following which it was:

Resolved

To approve planning permission subject to the following conditions:

Conditions

1 The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans and documents:

Drawing No. 5150 Rev A: Proposed Site Plan, dated July 2024 and received 25 July 2024;

Drawing No. 5151 Rev A: Proposed Elevations, dated July 2024 and received 25 July 2024;

Application Form, dated 10/05/2024 and received 10 May 2024; and

Planning, Heritage, Design and Access Statement Rev A, dated July 2024 and received 25 July 2024.

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

2 The development hereby permitted shall not be brought into use until the post and rail fence to be installed in the northern part of the site has been installed. The fence shall be maintained in place thereafter.

REASON: In the interests of visual amenity, to contain the development and prevent visual overspill of the site.

3 The development hereby permitted shall not be brought into use until the parking shown on the plans has been surfaced, laid out and made available for use. The parking shall be maintained as such and kept free from obstruction thereafter, and shall not be used as additional storage.

REASON: In the interests of highway safety to ensure that the parking needs of the development are met on-site.

Informative

4 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.

Informative

5 The effect of paragraph 13 of Schedule 7A to the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 is that planning permission granted for development of land in England is deemed to have been granted subject to the condition (biodiversity gain condition) that development may not begin unless:

(a)  a Biodiversity Gain Plan has  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

Development of site to provide 9 no. dwellings, with associated landscaping, sustainable drainage and primary vehicular access from Stone Lane

Public Participation

Peter Birch, Moreen Ryman, and Cllr Allsop representing Lydiard Millicent Parish Council spoke in objection of the application.

Planning Officers introduced the report which recommended that the Committee approve planning permission, subject to conditions, for development of site to provide 9 no. dwellings, with associated landscaping, sustainable drainage and primary vehicular access from Stone Lane

Members of the Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions to the officer, where the following was clarified:

·       There are owned verges which were demonstrated in the report

·       No policies from any emerging Local Plan had been applied and carry no weight in the application

·       The definition of sustainable development was interpreted as NPPF guidelines and that which meets the needs of today without undermining the needs of future generations.

·       That the condition to begin development within 3 years of approval could be reasonably reduced by Councillors.

·       That the definition of commencement of development is set out in law, and there is little that planning officers can do outside of this.

The Committee then received statements from the public.

The local member Cllr Steve Bucknell also spoke in objection of the application.

During debate, Councillors were extremely concerned for the welfare of existing residents and any future residents should the development go ahead. This was largely as a result of the lack of footway, the narrowness of the road and the potential impact on existing resident’s privacy due to the likely direction of vehicle headlights.

Councillors considered there to be a lack of sustainable development, especially in relation to sustainable transport. Pedestrians are high in the hierarchy for consideration and an absence of footpaths massively undermined this.

Councillors considered the application to fail to comply with numerous Core Policies, Lydiard Millicent Parish Council’s Neighbourhood Plan and parts of NPPF.

During debate, a motion to refuse was proposed by Cllr Gavin Grant and seconded by Cllr Steve Bucknell Grant following which it was:

Resolved

To refuse the application for the following reasons:

The application did not comply with Core Policies 1, 2, 44, 48, 57 (s1 and s7), 60, and 61

The application did not adhere to the Lydiard Millicent Parish Council’s Neighbourhood Plan

The application did not comply with NPPF, specifically paragraphs 115, 116 and 117

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.