Agenda item

First floor rear extension.

Public Participation

·         Mr Adrian Eales, spoke opposition to the application.

The Senior Planning Officer, Meredith Baker, introduced a report which recommended that the application for a first floor rear extension be approved, subject to the conditions outlined in the report. Key details were stated to include the principle of development, design, visual and highway impacts as well as the impact on residential amenity.

Attention was drawn that the application number on page 91 of the agenda pack should have been listed as PL/2023/05917. It was reported that the subject property was a single storey bungalow located at the end of a residential road on a street comprised of a mixture of single and double storey dwellings. It was considered that there would be no negative impact to neighbour or visual amenity as a result of the proposed development.

Members of the Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions of the Senior Planning Officer. Details were sought on the orientation of the building. It was confirmed that the proposed extension would face towards the A4, Bath Road. 

The members of the public then had the opportunity to present his views to the Committee as detailed above.

The Unitary Division Member, Cllr Jane Davies then spoke in opposition to the application.

In response to the points raised by the public and Unitary Division Member, the Senior Planning Officer clarified that there was a requirement to provide three parking spaces for dwellings with four or more bedrooms. Given that the proposed development was a single household extension, it was not felt that it would be proportionate to set a condition that a construction statement was produced.

In response to concerns that the height of the roof of the proposed extension was too high, the Senior Planning Officer explained that the design had been modified following consultation with Officers. There was sufficient distance between the subject dwelling and neighbouring properties so that it would not cause unacceptable blocking of light and the proposed development’s height was not out of keeping with the street scene.

So that the Committee had something to debate, the Chairman, seconded by Cllr Stuart Wheeler, proposed that the application be granted for the reasons outlined in the report.

A debate followed where issues such as the building design and possible disruption during the construction process were discussed.

In response to queries it was stated that Core Policy 57 (High Quality Design and Place Shaping) of the Wiltshire Core Strategy did not set a limit on the number of extensions that a property could have. It was confirmed that no renewable energy sources were being proposed as part of the development, but it was not currently a stipulation of the Wiltshire Core Strategy.

During the debate, the Chairman proposed an amendment to his original motion to add an informative that the Applicant be advised to provide contact details to neighbouring properties prior to the commencement of construction works, so they could discuss concerns about the project. The Chairman’s amendment was accepted as a friendly amendment by the seconder of the original motion, Cllr Wheeler, and added to the substantive motion.

At the conclusion of the debate, it was:

Resolved

That planning permission be GRANTED 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:

- Site Location & Block Plans - Drawing No. 22122 01 dated July 2023 and received 17/07/2023

- Proposed Plans and Elevations - Drawing No. 22122 108 dated June 2023 and received 05/10/2023

- Application Form - received 17/07/2023

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

Informative

The Applicant is advised to provide a point of contact (including name, e-mail address and telephone number(s)), and distribute this to the occupiers of neighbouring properties prior to the commencement of construction works. This contact should available to respond to/discuss any concerns regarding the build and its impact on neighbouring occupants, if the need arises.