Agenda and minutes

To receive any disclosure of interests from Members and Officers in matters to be discussed.

Note: Councillors are reminded of their obligations to declare disclosable pecuniary interests, personal and/or prejudicial interests, and on Predetermination or Bias in accordance with legislation and the Council’s Code of Conduct.

If you require advice, please contact the appropriate Democratic Services Officer, prior to the meeting.

Councillor Weir declared a personal (but not prejudicial) interest in respect of item 6 (Garrison Ground, Bar End Road) due to her role as Trustee of Winchester Action for Climate Change (WinACC).

Councillor Izard made a personal statement in respect of item 14 (6 Valley Close, Colden Common) that as a Ward and Parish Councillor he had refrained from taking part in discussions regarding this site, therefore he had not predetermined the application and took part in the discussion and vote thereon.

(Report PDC1119 and Update Sheet refers)

A copy of each planning application decision is available to view on the Council’s website under the respective planning application.

The Committee agreed to receive the Update Sheet as an addendum to Report PDC1119.

Item 6:  Demolition of existing structures and erection of a new Winchester Sport and Leisure Centre, with associated access, landscaping, drainage and car parking

Garrison Ground, Bar End Road, Winchester

Case number:  18/01469/FUL

The Head of Development Management referred Members to the Update Sheet which set out the full conditions of the application which had been re-worded and rearranged.

In addition, a verbal update was provided outlining a revision to the updated Condition 9 to read “BREEAM excellent”. 

During public participation, Tom Brenan (WinACC), Patrick Davies and Mary Tiles (City of Winchester Trust), John Doyle, Phil Gagg, Jeremy Mortimer, Janet Berry (Highcliffe Community Forum for Action (HCFfA)) and Emma Back (Winchester Sport, Art and Leisure Trust (SALT)) spoke in objection to the application and Mike Lawless (LA Architects), David Sherry (Winchester and District Athletics Club) and Mike Fisher (Penguins Swimming Club)  spoke in support of the application and all answered Members’ questions thereon.

During public participation, Councillor Murphy spoke on this item as Ward Member.  Councillors Laming (Badger Farm and Oliver’s Battery), Learney (St Barnabas), Hutchison and Thompson (St Paul) also spoke on this item as Ward Members for their respective contiguous wards.

In addition, Councillors Griffiths (Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing) and Warwick (Portfolio Holder for Environment) also addressed the Committee on this item in their capacity as Portfolio Holders.

A summary of the points raised by each of these Members is set out below:

Councillor Laming

-       The pre-application did not meet the budget or facility mix;

-       Building design only just reached the requirements of the green standard

-       Maximised Carbon Reduction

-       Use of polycarbonate material and maintenance costs

-       Omission of the Depot Site from the application

-       Layout fails to address design

-       Failure to provide pedestrian link to residents in Milland Road

-       Provision of electric vehicle charging points less than 75% of spaces

-       Agree the need for a Leisure Centre but not at any cost – design does not meet aspirations

-       Solar PV

Councillor Murphy

-       Pre-application flaws with improvements to be made

-       Adverse impact on traffic for the residents of Highcliffe and negative impact on neighbouring properties

-       Children crossing hazardous

-       Car Park taking up invaluable green space at the Garrison Ground

-       Provision of disabled parking and pick up/drop off points

-       Negative impact on the four aims of the Winchester Town Access Plan

-       Failure to improve congestion and air quality

-       Inadequate pedestrian and cycle routes – increase to the 40 bicycle spaces provided

-       Noise and light pollution as a result of the hours of use – request reduction in this from 0500- 0000 hours to 0600 – 2300 hours

-       Carbon footprint of the development – 50% more energy than current

-       Winchester parking set to increase by 22%

-       Contravenes Winchester Town Access Plan and the Lower Carbon Council vision

Councillor Learney

-       Transport aspects – too far to travel for residents using public  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Item 8:  Reserved matters application – consent for appearance, landscaping, layout and scale for new dwellings behind St Lukes Church.

Land at Stanmore Estate, North of Stanmore Lane, Winchester

Case number: 18/01792/REM

During public participation, David Chafe spoke in support of the application and answered Members’ questions thereon.

At the conclusion of debate, the Committee agreed to grant permission for the reasons and subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the Report.

Item 9:  Proposed light well and bike store 

30 Clifton Road, Winchester, SO22 5BU

Case number: 18/01807/HOU

The Head of Development Management referred Members to the Update Sheet which set out; an amendment to Condition 3; and an addition to Condition 5.

During public participation, John Hearn spoke in support of the application and answered Members’ questions thereon.

At the conclusion of debate, the Committee agreed to grant permission for the reasons and subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the Report and the Update Sheet.

Item 10: Change of use from a 6 bedroom C4 class HMO to a 7 bedroom Sui Generis House in Multiple Occupation 

34 Chalk Ridge, Winchester, SO23 0QW

Case number: 18/01782/FUL

The Head of Development Management referred Members to the Update Sheet which made reference to the Article 4 Direction on the agenda on this item and stated that this direction did not apply to this particular application site. 

During public participation, Tim Prowting spoke in objection to the application and answered Members’ questions thereon.

At the conclusion of debate, the Committee agreed to grant permission for the reasons and subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the Report and the Update Sheet.

Item 11:  Change of use of land from travelling showpersons permanent family plot to private residential garden for The Bungalow. 

The Bungalow, Southwick Road, North Boarhunt, Fareham

Case number: 18/01732/FUL

In response to questions from Members, the Head of Strategic Planning clarified that there was an identified need assessed as part of the Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Document (DPD) requiring 15 pitches for gypsy and travellers and 24 pitches for travelling showpersons across the District.

It was noted that at present the Council had achieved the15 pitch target for gypsy and travellers but had a shortfall in the provision of the number of travelling showpersons plots of eight plots; this was based on the evidence carried out in the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment 2016. Therefore, there was a need for the site to be retained for this purpose and the application was recommended for refusal and contrary to Policies within the emerging Gypsy and Traveller DPD (Policy TR1) and adopted Local Plan Part 1 Policy CP5.

During public participation, Michael Knappett (agent) spoke in support of the application and answered Members’ questions thereon.

During public participation, Councillor Cutler spoke on this item as Ward Member.

In summary, Councillor Cutler raised the following points:

-       Supported the application as the Gypsy and Traveller DPD had not yet been formally adopted by the Council as Policy and was therefore unenforceable.

-       Local knowledge is that not all other pitches allocated for this purpose in Boarhunt are occupied by travelling showpersons suggesting there is no demand.

-       Applicant trying to sell property for 14 months as no longer residing in this District and property remains unoccupied but unable to be sold due to this restriction.

-       Suggested this is a virtual site which will never be able to be used by travelling showpersons as the owner would not allow its use so would not increase the Council’s pitch provision in any event.

At the conclusion of debate, the Committee agreed to grant permission for the following reason: The DPD has not yet been adopted and this site is not now available (as was proposed in the DPD).

Item 12: Change of use from Nil use to Residential

Renwood, Outlands Lane, Curdridge, SO30 2HD

Case number: 18/01942/FUL

During public participation, Simon Fleming and Eric Bodger (Curdridge Parish Council) spoke in objection to the application and Ronald Ross (applicant)  spoke in support of the application and answered Members’ questions thereon.

During public participation, Councillor Huxstep spoke on this item as Ward Member.

In summary, Councillor Huxstep raised the following points:

-       Land used as valuable amenity space by Outlands Road residents for informal parking on an unallocated basis

-       No established need for this application

-       Contrary to Policies DM15, DM16, DM17 and DM23 as land a local rural asset and should be refused.

At the conclusion of debate, the Committee agreed to grant permission for the reasons and subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the Report, subject to an amendment to Condition 3 to ensure that boundary hedging must not exceed 1.2 metres in height.

Item 13: Erection of a 3 bedroom, two storey agricultural workers dwelling, car parking and garden area (AMENDED DESCRIPTION)

Bushmoor Farm, Westley Lane, Sparsholt

Case number: 18/01133/FUL

During public participation, Sue Wood (Sparsholt Parish Council), Tony Charles and Edward Wheeler (applicant) spoke in support of the application and answered Members’ questions thereon.

During public participation, Councillor Horrill spoke on this item as Ward Member.

In summary, Councillor Horrill raised the following points:

-       Requested that the Committee consider approving the application for this house in its rural countryside location to support the applicant’s successful farming business.

-       Applicant received a DEFRA grant for butchers unit, purchased more land and possessed a commitment to farming of over 11 years

-       Satisfied all other criteria of Bruton Knowles’ assessment and meets the requirements of Policy DM11.

-       1.16 full time equivalents was the calculation used by Bruton Knowles but this did not incorporate the applicant’s time spent in the butchering unit and the packaging of produce which all took place on site.

At the conclusion of debate, the Committee agreed to grant permission for the following reasons: the proposal accords with Policy DM11. Conditions would be included to protect trees and ecology, to require details of materials and drainage and to restrict occupation to an agricultural worker. with precise wording to be delegated to the Head of Development Management, in consultation with the Chairman.  

Item 14: (AMENDED PLANS) Development of a single dwelling on the land adjacent to number 6 Valley Close

6 Valley Close, Colden Common, SO21 1UN

Case number: 18/01809/FUL

During public participation, Mary Shields, David Harwood and Rob Veck  spoke in objection to the application and answered Members’ questions thereon.

At the conclusion of debate, the Committee agreed to refuse permission for the following reasons: contrary to Policy DM16, does not respond positively in terms of its design, scale and layout.

RESOLVED:

1.             That the decisions taken on the Development Control Applications in relation to those applications outside the area of the South Downs National Park be agreed as set out in the decision relating to each item, subject to the following:

                        (i)         That in respect of item 6, permission be granted for the                       reasons and subject to the informatives set out in the Report                            and the revised conditions set out in the Update Sheet, subject               to: the verbal update to amend the wording of revised Condition                   9 to read ‘BREEAM excellent’; an amendment to revised                                Condition 34 to change the hours of use to read 0500            to 2300                       hours; and an additional condition requesting details of the                           Travel Plan to be submitted to officers, with the precise wording                         of this condition to be delegated to the Head of Development                        Management, in consultation with the Chairman 

                        (ii)        That in respect of item 11, permission be granted for the                     following reason: The DPD has not yet been adopted and this               site is not now available (as was proposed in the DPD).

(iii)       That in respect of item 12, permission be granted

                        for the reasons and subject to the conditions and informatives                      set out in the Report, subject to an amendment to Condition 3 to                  ensure that boundary hedging must not exceed 1.2 metres in                       height.

(iv)       That in respect of item 13, permission be granted for the

                        following reasons: the proposal accords with Policy DM11.                            Conditions would be included to protect trees and ecology, to                    require details of materials and  drainage and to restrict                                    occupation to an agricultural worker, with precise wording to be                   delegated to the Head of Development Management, in                                 consultation with the Chairman; and

                        (v)        `That in respect of Item 14, permission be refused for the                   following reasons: contrary to Policy DM16, does not                                            respond positively in terms of its design, scale and layout.