Agenda item

Public Participation

Mr Kevin Burnside spoke in objection to the application.

Mrs Rachel Croft spoke in objection to the application.

Mr Gordon Duncan spoke in objection to the application.

Mr Gary, Llewellyn, agent, spoke in support of the application.

The Area Development Manager presented a report which recommended that authority be delegate to the Service Director (Development Services) to grant the planning permission subject to a legal agreement as detailed in the report.

It was noted that the application had been deferred from the last meeting in order to organise a site visit for Members, which had now occurred, and to clarify whether the site was a County Wildlife site. It was confirmed that the listing of the site as a County Wildlife site in the Wiltshire Core Strategy had been an error. It was also noted that the Woolley Plan for the area was not a policy consideration, but was a material consideration due to being a demonstration of local opinion on this and other developments in the area.

The Area Development manager also gave details of further representations received since the previous committee meeting, and reiterated that as before the main issues included the principle of the development and whether it preserved or enhanced the character of the Conservation area, which did not include the bungalow proposed for demolition.

The Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions of officers. In response to queries it was confirmed that further public consultation was not necessary regarding the incorrect listing of the site as a County Wildlife site in the Core Strategy, as it was an error, not an amendment to policy. Details on the definition of town policy limits were also sought, with the implications for the application site.

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

The Local Member, Cllr Rosemary Brown, then spoke in objection to the application.

A discussion followed, where the lack of objection from Highways and Landscape officers, and the objections of the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, were noted, and the principle of the development was questioned. The impact of the application on the wider area was debated in addition to the nature of the impact on neighbouring properties, and the planning history of the site as detailed in the report was also raised, along with the suitability of the access to the site.

At the conclusion of debate, it was,

Resolved:

That Planning Permission be REFUSED for the following reasons:

1)The proposal by reason of its overall design, density and layout would neither preserve nor enhance the character or appearance of the conservation area contrary to Policies C17 & C18 of the West Wiltshire District Plan - 1st Alteration 2004, and would, furthermore, disrupt the character of Coronation Avenue and the surrounding area contrary to Policies H1(d) and H24 of the West Wiltshire District Plan - 1st Alteration 2004.

2)The proposal by reason of the restricted access and lack of visibility onto Coronation Avenue, together with the poor visibility at the intersection of the new access with the existing public footpath, would be prejudicial to highway safety and result in conflict between vehicular traffic entering the site and pedestrians using the public footpath contrary to Policy H1 of the West Wiltshire District Plan - 1st Alteration 2004.

3)The proposal would have an unacceptable adverse impact on the amenity of the residents of 69, Woolley Street, by reason of overbearing impact created by the close proximity of the gable wall of the proposed dwelling on plot 4, accentuated by the change in levels between the application site and the lower level that 69, Woolley Street is located at. This would conflict with policy C38 of the West Wiltshire District Plan – 1st Alteration 2004.