Agenda item

Public Participation

Mr Robert Hall, resident, spoke in objection to the application.

Ms Joanna Webster, resident, spoke in objection to the application.

Mr Eric Webster, resident, spoke in objection to the application.

Mr Richard Daniel, applicant, spoke in support of the application.

Mrs Judith Daniel, applicant, spoke in support of the application.

The Development Management Team Leader, Karen Guest, introduced the report which outlined the application for the erection of a shed within the rear garden of a cottage located within the Ramsbury Conservation Area. The officer then read out a late submission to the consultation process.

The officer recommended that the application be approved for the reasons set out in the report. Key issues were stated to include the impact on the character and appearance of the conservation area and the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB); and the impact on residential amenity. It was highlighted that the proposed development would be taller than a typical shed but that this did not necessarily equate to harm since it would not be readily viewable from public areas. It was also highlighted that the neighbours’ outlook would change as a result of the proposal but that it would not result in a loss of amenity.

Members of the Committee were invited to ask technical questions of the officer. In response to queries it was confirmed that the development would most likely take up 53% of the applicants’ garden; and that the height of the development from ground level would be 3.8m.

Members of the public were then invited to speak as detailed above.

In response to points raised during public participation, the officer reminded members to consider whether the application would be likely to cause harm to the character and appearance of the conservation area; that outbuildings could be used for ancillary purposes without the need for planning permission; that the building would be predominantly built from concrete but would be timber clad; and that it would include a skylight and two entry points.

Cllr Stewart Dobson, seconded by Cllr Paul Oatway, moved that the application be refused because the proposal would not preserve or enhance the character and appearance of the conservation area due to its excessive size.

In the debate that followed, the key issues discussed included: the size and design of the proposal; its impact on the conservation area; and its impact on the amenities of the occupiers of surrounding properties. The use of the building was questioned, given its size, which was felt to be disproportionately large for its purpose.

Concerns were expressed that constructing such a building in the proposed location would be harmful to the character and appearance of the conservation area, as it would take up a significant amount of the rear garden and would be much taller than a standard shed and other typical outbuildings and structures in the vicinity. It was identified that the level of harm to the conservation area would be ‘less then substantial’.

At the conclusion of debate it was:

Resolved:

To refuse planning permission for the following reason:

The proposed building, by reason of its scale and positioning, would cause less than substantial harm to the character and appearance of the conservation area. There would be no public benefits that would outweigh this harm. The proposal would therefore be contrary to Core Policies 57 and 58 in the Wiltshire Core Strategy and central government policy contained in the NPPF.