Agenda item

Proposal Description: Item 7: New detached 1.5 storey 5 bedroom dwelling and detached garage, following demolition of existing dwelling. (Revised submission to approved 22/00354/HOU to facilitate replacement of entire dwelling)

The case officer announced that members of the committee had recently undertaken a site visit to view the proposal from the road and from neighbouring properties at 114 and 118 Olivers Battery Road South to understand its impact on the surrounding area.

The application was introduced. Members were referred to the Update Sheet which set out in full an Air Quality Statement and Dust Management Plan submitted by the applicant in accordance with the requirement of the Air Quality Supplementary Planning Document and associated changes to Condition 10; amendments to Conditions 3, 5 (drainage), 8 (BEP) and the removal of Condition 6 (energy and water efficiency).

During public participation, Susan Summers, Belinda Wasylciw and Councillor Rona Blundell (Olivers Battery Parish Council) spoke in objection to the application and Louise Cutts (agent) spoke in support of the application and answered Members’ questions thereon.

Councillor Warwick spoke as a Ward Member and answered Members’ questions thereon.

In summary, Councillor Warwick thanked the committee for visiting the site, stated that she was speaking in objection to the application and raised the following points:

·       Provided some background of the setting of Olivers Battery Road South which largely comprised of a central core of two storey houses surrounded by low density one storey bungalows with open plan gardens. The proposed development sits on the edge of the central core between two single storey bungalows.

·       Local residents had raised objection to the increased roof height of the new building (at 7.9m from the original 5.4 m) and were concerned that the increased height and bulk of the new structure would dominate the streetscene and have a detrimental impact on their properties.

·       In addition, there was concern was that the additional height and new windows would reduce the privacy of neighbouring properties and the enjoyment of their homes. Therefore, it was suggested that consideration be given to adequate landscape screening options for all affected properties.

·       Contrary to Oliver’s Battery Village Design Statement and Policy CP13

·       Following the original application last year, concerns about the planning process in this case have also been raised by local residents and the importance of the reasons why there was no objections to the original application except from the parish council as nearby residents all advise they were not notified of this application in writing last year and that no orange signs were displayed outside the property so they were not aware of proposals to replace the bungalow with a five bedroomed house, by the time they were aware, planning permission had already been granted.

·       Relevant to this application it would have been useful to have the written report of the council’s building control team regarding the condition of the remaining walls before they were demolished to understand why they could not be used.

·       In conclusion, Councillor Warwick requested that the committee consider adding a condition to include screening planting between all affected properties, including those to the east.

For clarification during questions, the council’s legal advisor reminded the committee that it was not a relevant to query the motives or reasoning of why the applicant had submitted the proposal in the determination of this application.

Following further questions, the planning officer clarified that the applicant had confirmed that they would be willing to accept the amended condition to restrict the rooflights to the north and south roofslopes to top opening only to mitigate any overlooking concerns raised by neighbouring properties.

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 and verbal update, subject to the following:

(i)       An amendment to condition 9 to include the protection of the silver birch tree during the construction of the garage and its retention thereafter.