Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 21 July 2010. (copy herewith).

Resolved:

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 21 July 2010 as a correct record.

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

There were no declarations of interest.

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 89 below.

An appeals update is attached for information.

The Committee received a report setting out:-

(i)         details of forthcoming hearings and public inquiries scheduled to be heard between 11 August 2010 and 31 January 2011.

(ii)        planning appeals received between 9 July and 28 July 2010.

(iii)       planning appeals decided between 9 July and 28 July 2010.

To consider and determine planning applications in the attached schedule.

The Committee received a presentation by the Case Officer which set out the main issues in respect of the application.

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:-

Mrs Ann Lock, representing Corsham Civic Society, spoke objecting to the application.

Dr Andrew Cowie, a local resident, spoke objecting to the application.

Mr David Stirling, a Planning & Listed Building Consultant, spoke objecting to the application.

Mr David Pearce, the applicant’s agent, spoke in favour of the application.

Ms Jill Offord, a former trustee and a housing professional, spoke in favour of the application.

Mr Guy Hungerford, the applicant and a trustee, spoke in favour of the application.

Cllr Nicholas Keyworth, representing Corsham Town Council, set out the Town Council’s objections to the application.

On hearing the views of Cllr Peter Davis, as local member and Cllr Alan Macrae, member for an adjoining constituency, both objecting to the application,

Resolved:   To refuse planning permission for the following reasons:-

1.                  The proposed development fails to respect the local character and distinctiveness of the area, particularly in regard to its design, size, scale, massing materials and siting, and fails to respect the quality of the historic and built environment of the locality.  The development fails to preserve or enhance the character and appearance of the Conservation Area, the historic interest of the listed building or its setting.  The application proposals are therefore contrary to Policies C3, HE1 and HE4 of the North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011 and the requirements of PPS 5 (Planning for the Historic Environment).

2.                  The proposed development will have an overbearing impact upon neighbouring residential properties and will adversely impact upon their amenity and privacy.  The application proposals are therefore contrary to Policy C3, in particular criteria (iii), of the North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011.

3.                  The site is located beyond the settlement framework boundary for Corsham where residential development is not generally permitted.Policy H7 (Affordable Housing on Exception Sites) does not apply to towns such as Corsham. The proposal is for affordable housing.  However, there is no strong and compelling argument for affordable housing, which would justify it being considered as an ‘exception site’ within the open countryside.  The application proposals are contrary to Policies H4 and H7 of the North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011.

The Committee received a presentation by the Case Officer which set out the main issues in respect of the application.

The Committee then received statements from the following members of the public expressing their views regarding this application:-

Mr John Davenport, a local resident, spoke objecting to the proposal.

Mrs Audrey Shotton-Gale, a local resident, spoke objecting to the proposal.

Cllr Allison Bucknell, a local resident, spoke objecting to the proposal.

On hearing the views of Cllr Toby Sturgis, as local Member, and after discussion,

Resolved:  To grant planning permission, subject to the conditions set out below, for the following reason:-

This is a satisfactory form of development in principle and in terms of access layout and scale. Therefore it is considered acceptable for outline planning permission to be granted as the proposal complies with policy TM4. The future submission of details in respect of this scheme should be able to ensure that the proposal complies with policies NE15 and C3 of the Local Plan 2011.

Conditions

1.  The development hereby permitted shall be begun either before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission, or before the expiration of two years from the date of approval of the last of the reserved matters to be approved, whichever is the later.

REASON:  To comply with the provisions of Section 92 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 following matters (in respect of which approval is expressly reserved) have been submitted to, and approved in writing by, the Local Planning Authority:

(a)    The external appearance of the development;

(b)   The landscaping of the site;

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

REASON:  The application was made for outline planning permission and is granted to comply with the provisions of Section 92 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and Article 3(1) of the Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) Order 1995.

3.  No development shall commence on site until details of the materials, sections through the canal at a scale of 1:20, engineering drawings including section details at a scale of 1:50 through the proposed bridge and engineering drawings including details at a scale of 1:50 of the lock gates to be constructed 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

4.  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) indications of all existing trees and hedgerows on the land;

(b) details of any to be retained, together with measures for their protection in the course  ...  view the full minutes text for item 89b

The Committee received a presentation by the Case Officer which set out the main issues in respect of the application.

Members of the Committee then asked technical questions after which they received a statement from Mr Desmond Palmer, a local resident, objecting to the application.

On hearing the views of Cllr Christine Crisp, the local Member, objecting to the proposal and after discussion,

Resolved:   To grant planning permission, subject to the reasons set out below, for the following reason:-

Subject to a landscaping scheme being submitted and implemented the proposal is considered acceptable in terms of its location and the impact it has on the amenity of the adjacent residents properties and therefore complies with policies C3 and H8 of the Local Plan 2011.

Conditions

1.   Within 3 months from the date of this permission a scheme of soft landscaping for the area of     land to the north of the boundary between Heathcote and Wrencroft shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority, the details of which shall include:

(a) indications of all existing trees and hedgerows on the land;

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

(c) all species, planting sizes and planting densities, spread of all trees and hedgerows within or overhanging the site, in relation to the proposed buildings, roads, and other works;

(d) proposed and existing functional services above and below ground (e.g. drainage, power, communications, cables, pipelines etc indicating lines, manholes, supports etc);

Thereafter all soft landscaping comprised in the approved details of landscaping shall be carried out in the first planting and seeding season following this permission.  All shrubs, trees and hedge planting shall be maintained free from weeds and shall be protected from damage by vermin and stock. Any trees or plants which, within a period of five years, die, are removed, or become seriously damaged or diseased shall be replaced in the next planting season with others of a similar size and species, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the local planning authority. 

REASON: To ensure a satisfactory landscaped setting for the development and to protection the amenity of adjacent residents.

POLICY: C3

2.  The development hereby permitted shall be used only for purposes ancillary to the use of

Wrencroft as a single dwellinghouse and not for any commercial, industrial or business

purpose whatsoever.

Reason: In the interest of residential amenity.

3.  Prior to the commencement of development hereby permitted a detailed scheme which

indicates that roof run off from the building will be collected on site shall be submitted to and

approved by the Local Planning Authority. The approved scheme shall be fully implemented

before the end of October 2010.

Reason- To ensure that the water run off from this development is appropriately dealt with.

INFORMATIVES:

1. This decision relates to documents/plans submitted with the application, listed below:

Site plan 01.05.10c, 10b and 10a, Design and Access Statement all date stamped 6/05/10

The Committee received a presentation by the Case Officer which set out the main issues in respect of the application.

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 Julian Butler, a local resident, objected to the application.

Mr Phil Bowley, an employee of the applicant, supported the application.

Cllr Ray Sanderson, Chairman of Malmesbury Town Council’s Planning & Environmental Issues Committee set out the Town Council’s objections to the application.

On hearing the views of Cllr Simon Killane, the local Member, objecting to the application and after discussion, it was;

Resolved:   To delegate authority to the Area Development Manager to grant planning permission, subject to a legal agreement to secure the provision of an off-site open space contribution and potentially an education contribution and to the conditions set out below for the following reason:-

The proposed development by reason of its scale, design and siting would not result in any detrimental impact on highway safety or the appearance of the area, nor would it be detrimental to the privacy and amenity of adjacent residents.  The proposal thus accords with Policy C3 of the adopted North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011.

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 all the existing buildings on site have been permanently demolished and all of the demolition materials and debris resulting there from has been removed from the site. Such demolition shall not occur until such time as those garages leased to “surrounding residents” have been successfully relocated, details of which shall have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

REASON:  In the interests of the character and appearance of the area [and neighbouring amenities].

POLICY C3

3. 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.

POLICY-C3

4. 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) all species, planting sizes and planting densities, spread of all trees and hedgerows within or overhanging the site, in relation to the proposed buildings, roads, and other works;

(b) finished levels and contours;

(c) means of enclosure;

(d) hard surfacing materials;

(i) minor artefacts and structures (e.g. furniture, play equipment, refuse and other storage  ...  view the full minutes text for item 89d

The Committee received a presentation by the Case Officer which set out the main issues in respect of the application.

Members of the Committee then asked technical questions.

After discussion,

Resolved:   To delegate authority to the Area Development Manager to grant planning permission, subject to conditions and:-

(1)               The expiration of the consultation period on 24 August 2010

(2)       The seeking and securing of a contribution towards Public Open Space through a legal agreement.        

Reason

The proposal, having regard to extent of the works already permitted under 09/02252FUL and the circumstances of the application, the works are considered not to require significant reconstruction and accord with Policy BD6 of the North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011.

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.