Issue - meetings

Proposal Description: Ground floor single-storey extension.

The application was introduced. During public participation, Francesca Santovito spoke in objection to the application, and Jonathan Spencer spoke in support of the application and answered members' questions.

Councillor Sue Cook spoke as a ward member and expressed several points on behalf of residents which could be summarised as follows.

1. She acknowledged the officer's recommendation for approval of the application but felt that this should not detract from other outstanding issues at the public house site. She welcomed that an application was submitted before work commenced, contrasting this with previous instances involving retrospective applications.
2. She advised that a condition from a previous application stipulated a minimum of 40 car parking spaces for the public house, whereas the current provision was 16 spaces.
3. She referred to Hampshire Highways' consultation response, which indicated that parking was a matter for Winchester City Council as the planning authority, and noted that Hampshire Highways did not object to ongoing issues of overspill parking on local roads, including on double yellow lines, which impacted residents of Spring Lane.
4. She understood that the current parking standards included a requirement for 17 spaces for the public house, whereas only 16 were provided, resulting in a shortfall and exacerbating parking problems.
5. She suggested that conditions should be considered, relating to:
   1. Ensuring doors and windows were kept closed during entertainment.
   2. The management of the smoking area, noting its proposed relocation from the front to the rear.
6. She advised of concerns that relocating the smoking area to the rear would impact nearby residents due to increased customer presence, potential for loud music, and general behaviour in proximity to their gardens.
7. She urged the planning committee to consider these points along with those of a previously public speaker, and reiterated that, despite understanding the officer's recommendation for approval, a condition regarding a Construction Management Plan should be utilised given the history of issues at the site.
8. Finally, Councillor Cook urged the applicant, to engage in communication and dialogue with residents to resolve ongoing issues.

The committee proceeded to ask questions and debate the application.

RESOLVED

The committee agreed to grant permission for the reasons and subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the report. Subject to an additional condition regarding the inclusion of a construction management plan and that the precise wording be delegated to the Chair of the Planning Committee, in consultation with the Service Lead: Built Environment.