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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Online Meeting

Contact: Jessica Croman  Democratic Services Officer

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Items
No. Item

115.

Apologies

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

Minutes:

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Christopher Newbury, who was substituted by Councillor David Halik.

 

In the absence of the Chairman, Councillor Jonathon Seed as Vice-Chairman, chaired the meeting.

 

116.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 22 July 2020.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 22 July 2020 were presented.

 

Resolved:

 

To approve as a correct record and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 22 July 2020.

 

 

117.

Declarations of Interest

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

Minutes:

Councillor Jonathon Seed declared a non-pecuniary interest for application 20/01681/FUL – Land Adjacent Brickfield Farm House, Stokes Marsh, Coulston - as he knew both the applicant and objectors for application.

 

118.

Chairman's Announcements

To receive any announcements through the Chair.

Minutes:

The Chairman noted that in the event of technical difficulties the meeting would be adjourned or rescheduled if unable to be resumed.

 

119.

Public Participation

The Council welcomes contributions from members of the public. During the ongoing Covid-19 situation the Council is operating revised procedures and the public are able participate in meetings online after registering with the officer named on this agenda, and in accordance with the deadlines below.

 

Guidance on how to participate in this meeting online.

 

Statements

 

Members of the public who wish to submit a statement in relation to an item on this agenda should submit this is electronically to the officer named on this agenda no later than 5pm on Thursday 16 August 2020.

 

State whom the statement is from (including if representing another person or organisation), state points clearly and be readable aloud in approximately 3 minutes. Up to three speakers are allowed for each item on the agenda.

 

Questions

?

Those wishing to ask questions are required to give notice of any such questions electronically to the officer named on the front of this agenda no later than 5pm on 12 August 2020 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 14 August 2020.

 

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 members prior to the meeting and made available at the meeting and on the Council’s website; they will be taken as read at the meeting.

Minutes:

No questions had been received from councillors or members of the public.

 

The Chairman explained the rules of public participation and the procedure to be followed at the meeting.

 

120.

Planning Appeals and Updates

To receive details of completed and pending appeals and other updates as appropriate.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

Resolved:

 

To Committee note the contents of the Planning Appeals Update.

121.

Planning Applications

To consider and determine the following planning applications.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the following applications:

 

122.

20/01219/FUL and 20/02055/LBC - Manvers House, Bradford on Avon

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

Public Participation

 

Mr Richard Sparks, on behalf of the neighbourhood group residing in Kingston Road, Mill Lane and Silver Street, spoke in objection to the application.

 

Leigh Denis, on behalf of Nash Partnership, spoke in support of the application.

 

Robert Moore, on behalf of the building owner, The Osborne Group, spoke in support of the application.

 

Natasha Bray, on behalf of Dan Tapscott at the Neighbourly Matters department at Rapleys property consultants, spoke in support of the application.

 

Steven Sims, Senior Planning Officer, introduced a report which recommended approving the application, subject to conditions, for alterations and extensions to existing office building including erection of mansard storey on north wing to accommodate additional B1 office floor space and the change of use of central building and southern wing from B1 offices to form 2 dwellings (C3).

 

The application had been deferred at the 22 July 2020 Western Area Planning Committee to enable the Councillors to attend a site visit which took place on the morning of 19 August 2020.

 

Three late representations had been received, including: a daylight and sunlight report submitted by the applicant, an additional letter of objection from neighbouring residents and an additional letter of representation from a company advising that they were no longer looking to lease Manvers House.

 

Key issues highlighted included: principle of development, impact on the setting of the listed building/conservation area/adjacent listed buildings, impact on the living conditions of adjacent residents, highway issues/parking and other issues.

 

Members of the Committee had the opportunity to ask technical questions of the officer. Reference was made to the daylight and sunlight report submitted by the applicant which stated 1-2 Kingston Road was commercial; officers acknowledged that it was in fact residential. Other points of focus were the mansard roof element and its relation to the stairway as detailed in the report. Officers noted the planning condition of installing obscurely glazed windows in the south-east facing second floor.

 

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

 

The meeting was adjourned from 15:37pm to 15:42pm due to technical difficulties. The meeting resumed and confirmed all members present were in attendance

 

The local Unitary Member Councillor Sarah Gibson spoke in support of the application, with the key points focussing on the positive impacts associated with the conversion of the property. Councillor Gibson raised concerns of the application, specifically surrounding the sunlight and daylight report’s findings and the impact on neighbouring residents’ privacy with the height of the proposed second storey.

 

A motion to defer the application to allow the applicant time to consider and consult upon extending the mansard roof towards the stairwell was moved by Councillor Sarah Gibson.

 

The motion of deferral fell.

 

Councillor Gibson then proposed a series of conditions if the application were to be approved. Councillor David Halik moved to approve the application, subject to said additional conditions, seconded by Councillor Peter Fuller.

 

The additional conditions related to the proposed outdoor planters to ensure they  ...  view the full minutes text for item 122.

123.

19/02719/OUT - Steeple Ashton Kennels And Cattery Edington Road, Steeple Ashton

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

Public Participation

 

Mark Pettit, agent to the applicant, spoke in support of the application.

 

David Cox, Senior Planning Officer, introduced a report which recommended the refusal of the planning application for the demolition of existing buildings/structures, and residential development (Class C3) of up to 9 no. dwellings; with associated car parking, turning, landscaping, private amenity space, access arrangements, and provision of footway - External access not reserved (Re-submission of Application No 18/07416/OUT).

 

Mike Wilmott, Head of Development Management, along with David Cox discussed issues surrounding the lack of a five-year housing land supply, the Ecological Parameters Plan, and the distance and isolation between the application site and village of Steeple Ashton.

 

Key issues highlighted included: the principle of the development; meeting Wiltshire’s housing needs; highway safety and parking; impacts on landscape, ecology, designated heritage assets; drainage matters; and s106/CIL contributions.

 

Members of the Committee had the opportunity to ask technical questions to the officer. The main points of focus included: local village facilities such as the frequency of bus services, local schools and the community shop; drainage concerns; and if the proposed footpath would be lit.

 

Officers noted: that as per the drainage report, the site would contain septic tanks and any surface water would be dealt with soakways; there are approximately five daily bus services that stop in the main village; and that the proposed footpath would not be lit as the existing path is not, due to the site being a known bat route which officers sought to protect.

 

Members of the public, as detailed above, had the opportunity to speak on the application.

 

Local Unitary Member, Councillor Jonathon Seed, spoke in support of the application and made reference to the non-objection to the principle from the Parish Council, and the minimal changes to the landscape.

 

Members then debated their concerns in regard to the conflict with the development plan policies, the distance and separation between the application site and the village, and the lack of a five-year housing land supply.

 

Councillor Ernie Clark moved to refuse the application in line with officer recommendations, which Councillor Pip Ridout seconded.

 

In the ensuing debate, points raised included: the merits of the size and nature of the development, the concerns regarding prior noise complaints and the location being well beyond the limits of the village. During the vote each member confirmed they had been able to hear and where possible, see all relevant materials.

 

Following the debate, it was:

 

Resolved

 

That application 19/02719/OUT be refused, in line with officer recommendations, for the following reasons:

 

The application site is located in the open countryside outside of the established village limits for Steeple Ashton as defined by the adopted Wiltshire Core Strategy. The proposal does not satisfy any of the Council’s adopted exemption policies and thus conflicts with the Council's plan-led approach to the delivery of new housing sites outside of the identified limits of development, as set out by Core Policy 2 of the Wiltshire Core Strategy. The proposal would therefore  ...  view the full minutes text for item 123.

124.

20/04037/FUL - 17 Blenheim Park, Bowerhill

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

Public Participation

 

A statement in support of the application from Chris Hulance (agent and designer for the applicant) was read out by a Democratic Services Officer.

 

Mike Wilmott, Head of Development Management, introduced a report which recommended approving the application, subject to conditions, for the demolition of an existing garage to erect a dwelling.

 

Key issues highlighted included: the principle of development; biodiversity matters; and design, highway and neighbouring impacts.

 

Members of the Committee had the opportunity to ask technical questions to the officer. The main points of focus included: internal layout plans, specifically surrounding the positioning of the existing chimney; and similar renovations in the immediate area.

 

Officers responded to the questions and referred to the pictures and layout plans included in the report.

 

Councillor David Halik moved to approve the application, subject to the conditions set out as per the officer recommendations, which Councillor Stewart Palmen seconded.

 

Members spoke of the amount of similar properties and developments in the local area and the minimal impact on the immediate neighbours but raised slight concerns as to the relatively small size of the property. During the vote each member confirmed they had been able to hear and where possible, see all relevant materials.

 

Following debate, it was,

 

Resolved

 

To approve the application 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 hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans:

Location Plan, Existing Site Plan, Block Plan, Existing and Proposed side elevations, existing front and rear elevations, proposed front and rear elevations, existing floor plans, proposed floor plans - Received 15th May 2020:

Revised Proposed Site Layout (BP 00351 R) received 3rd July 2020

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

 

3.    No development hereby approved shall commence on site, except for ground investigation work and any necessary site remediation, until infiltration testing and soakaway design details in accordance with Wiltshire Council's Surface Water Soakaway Guidance have been undertaken and submitted to the Council for its written approval to verify that soakaways would be suitable for the development. If the infiltration test results demonstrate that soakaways are not appropriate, an alternative method of surface water drainage shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority and be installed prior to the occupation of the development. The 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 and to ensure that the development can be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 124.

125.

20/01681/FUL - Land Adjacent Brickfield Farm House, Stokes Marsh, Coulston

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

Public Participation

 

Stephen Lawton spoke in objection to the application.

 

A statement in objection of the application from Tim Johnson, was read out by a Democratic Services Officer.

 

Lieutenant Colonel Paul Snodgrass, applicant, spoke in support of the application.

 

Christine Vize, on behalf of Coulston Parish Council, spoke in objection to the application.

 

Verity Giles-Franklin, Senior Planning Officer, introduced a report which recommended approving the application, subject to conditions, for the change of the use of agricultural land to mixed use equestrian and agricultural use, and construction of a barn with associated access track, hardstanding, turnout area, manure clamp, and the creation of a landscaped bund. It was noted that the proposed barn would house either five calves or ten sheep along with three horses, with the appropriate bedding and equipment included.

 

Key issues highlighted included: the principle of development and partial change of use; the impact on the area’s character and neighbouring amenity; and highway safety.

 

Members of the Committee had the opportunity to ask technical questions to the officer. The main point of focus included concerns surrounding the amount of livestock proposed for the application site. Officers clarified that the application site for the barn and equestrian developments was one-acre, but the entire area owned by the applicant that encompassed the holding was far bigger and fit for purpose for the amount of livestock proposed.

 

Members of the public, as detailed above, had the opportunity to speak on the application.

 

Local Unitary Member, Councillor Suzanne Wickham, spoke in objection of the application. Concerns were raised in regard to the consultation period and was felt to have not included all members of the community. Reference was made to a number of different plots of land for sale in the area which highlighted concerns of a cumulative issue of similar developments. The rural character of the area and the single-track lane in regard to the potential increase in the volume and movement of farm vehicles was emphasised. It was suggested that the site of the building, if approved, should move and a new access point created.

 

Officers stated that the creation of a new access point would exacerbate visibility and spatial issues which the existing access point did not share. It was clarified that the applicant would not have needed to apply for planning permission if the site were not to be used for equestrian purposes and that these purposes along with the barn, as conditioned, were for private use only.

 

At the beginning of the debate Councillor Trevor Carbin moved to approve the application as per officer recommendations and attached conditions, which Councillor Stewart Palmen seconded. Members discussed the traffic concerns and sought clarification from officers surrounding the Council’s policies related to subsequent applications, such as developing residential dwellings on the site. During the vote each member confirmed they had been able to hear and where possible, see all relevant materials.

 

Following the debate, it was:

 

Resolved

 

That application 20/01681/FUL be approved in line with officer recommendations, subject to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 125.

126.

Urgent Items

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

 

Minutes:

There were no Urgent Items.