Agenda and draft minutes

To record the names of apologies given and Deputy Members who are attending the meeting in place of appointed Members.

Apologies were noted as above.

To receive any disclosure of interests from Councillors or Officers in matters to be discussed.

Note: Councillors are reminded of their obligations to declare disclosable pecuniary interests (DPIs), other registerable interests (ORIs), non-registerable interests (NRIs) and on Pre-determination 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 Williams declared a disclosable pecuniary interest due to his role as Hampshire County Councillor. However, as there was no material conflict of interest, he remained in the room, spoke and voted under the dispensation granted on behalf of the Audit and Governance Committee to participate and vote in all matters which might have a County Council involvement.

Minutes of the previous meeting held on 4 February 2026.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 4 February 2026 be approved and adopted.

The committee agreed to receive the Update Sheet as an addendum to the

report.

A copy of each planning application decision is available to view on the

council’s website under the respective planning application. The committee considered the following items:

Proposal Description: Erection of Battery Energy Storage Facility including creation of new vehicular access along with landscaping and all associated engineering works.

The application was introduced. Members were referred to the update sheet (available here) which provided additional information regarding several matters including the following:

1. Additional representations had been received from the Parish Council and members of the public questioning the need for the development, grid connection, cumulative impact, traffic management, fire safety, noise, and community engagement.
2. The update sheet also contained technical amendments to the officer’s report and revisions to conditions 3, 7, 14, 18, 19, and 24. These points were set out in full within the update sheet with textual amendments highlighted.

In addition to the published presentation, the case officer provided a verbal update regarding the key issues that had been raised, including: construction vehicle movements, fire safety issues, noise, the need for battery storage and the connection date.

During public participation, Emma Rosling, and Michael Purkins spoke in objection to the application, Jonathan Cooper spoke in support of the application and Councillor Rappé on behalf of Wickham and Knowle Parish Council spoke in objection to the application and answered members' questions.

The committee proceeded to ask questions and debate the application. During discussion on the item the committee received advice from the Legal Adviser regarding several matters including the materiality of business rates, the management of noise impacts on human and ecological receptors, and the relationship between planning control and fire safety regulations.

RESOLVED

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. This was subject to an amended condition requiring the landscaping scheme to be implemented upon completion of construction and an additional informative regarding the coordination of construction traffic with neighbouring developments, the final wording of which to be delegated to officers in consultation with the Chair.

Proposal Description: Part demolition and part conversion of an existing C2 Care Home to three C3 residential dwellings, with the erection of five C3 residential dwellings, with associated access, landscaping and parking (Amended Plans).

The application was introduced. Members were referred to the update sheet which detailed an amendment to the list of approved plans under Condition 2. It was noted that the reference to “Block Plan Proposed - Dwg No. P13 Rev C - Received 24/10/2025” was to be omitted from the condition.

It was noted that the committee had visited the application site on 10 March 2026 to enable members to observe the site in context and to gain a better appreciation of the proposals.

During public participation, Ben Duxbury spoke in objection to the application, and Chris Rees spoke in support of the application. Councillor Nathan Eve spoke as a ward member and expressed several points on behalf of residents which could be summarised as follows.

1. He stated that he and the residents supported the principle of the site being redeveloped, but he opposed the proposal in its current form due to specific concerns regarding the designs of plots six, seven, and eight.
2. He highlighted that the proposed buildings were higher than the existing structure, resulting in the overlooking of neighbouring properties to the rear, as the existing hedge line provided sparse cover during winter.
3. He felt that plots six and seven would have direct lines of sight into the living areas and gardens of numbers 5 and 6 Salcot Road, while plots six and eight would compromise the privacy of gardens at Lawn End and Holly House.
4. He noted that the existing care wing was mainly single-storey and designed to avoid overbearing impacts, whereas the proposed three-storey dwellings, such as plot eight, would cause a loss of privacy for existing residents.
5. He expressed concern over the lack of consultation by the developer and a lack of clarity in the submitted application, noting limited information on site levels and contextual details regarding existing residential properties.
6. He pointed out that residents believed the proposed section BB in appendix four did not reflect the slope between properties, noting a two-metre drop along the boundary with number 6 Salcot Road.
7. He argued that the overlooking and loss of privacy were contrary to local planning policy, which states that proposals should not have an adverse effect on neighbouring properties.
8. He urged the committee to refuse the proposal, but requested that if permission was granted, conditions for proper wall fencing and mature landscaping be implemented to mitigate the effects of the development.

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 and the update sheet subject to an additional condition requiring that the “bonus room” window on Plot 7 be restricted to a top-opening design to prevent overlooking.

The application was introduced and during public participation, Andrew Hudson spoke in objection to the application, Emily Jeffries, and Alex Shepherd spoke in support of the application and Councillor Rappé on behalf of Wickham & Knowle Parish Council spoke in objection to the application and answered members' questions.

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 and the update subject to an additional condition requiring the classroom dome to be only used in connection with the existing kindergarten, with the precise wording delegated to officers in consultation with the Chair.

The report set out a summary of the planning and enforcement appeal decisions for the period 1 October 2025 to 31 December 2025. Officers advised that overall it demonstrated a successful quarter for appeals, with 14 dismissed and three allowed. The Chair commended officers on the report’s findings.

RESOLVED:

That the summary of planning and enforcement appeal decisions received during the period 1 October 2025 to 31 December be noted.