Agenda item

Proposal Description: Erection of 11 dwellings with new access from Tanners Lane, associated parking, drainage pumping station and landscaping following demolition of existing outbuildings.

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

1.    Additional information in regard to Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) had been submitted on the 5th of December. It was not considered that this was sufficient to remove the reason for refusal 3.

2.    Further correspondence had been received from the applicant on 11 December 2024 regarding the reason for refusal 2. It was found that this information did not fully address previous concerns raised leading to the reason for refusal 2.

3.    An additional comment had been submitted by the Anmore Action Group regarding:

·       Flooding and drainage

·       Unsuitable access

·       Unacceptable change to the rural character of the area

·       Use of pumping station for foul removal due to energy needed to function.

4. An additional letter had been received from the agent asking members to defer deciding on the application. It was the Officer's view that several issues had been raised and discussed at length with the agent and applicant and, as laid out in the report, no satisfactory solution had been submitted.
5. Amendment to Reason for Refusal 1:

1.       The proposed development is contrary to Policy 2(ii) of the Denmead Neighbourhood Plan, Policies MTRA2, CP10 and CP13 of the Local Plan Part 1 and DM15, DM16, DM18 and DM23 of the Local Plan Part 2 in that it:

·       presents an unacceptable cramped layout due to the use of Tanners Lane for access and the removal of part of the allocation site and the constraints this introduces. The layout, siting and density fail to take account of the site’s countryside setting and local context and do not provide an appropriate landscape buffer to Tanners Lane.

·       would result in a loss of tranquillity to the surrounding rural area which would be exacerbated by the works to Tanners Lane. The changes required to Tanners Lane to make the proposed access acceptable would also result in the erosion of the rural character to the detriment of the character of the area and the rural setting of the village.

·       had a constrained layout and isolated access to the site, therefore, additional parking on the site for visitors and residents with additional cars beyond the SPD requirements would lead to over-spill parking that cannot be accommodated on the site or the surrounding rural lanes.

6. Following the submission of additional information on 29th November comments from the Landscape architect were received:

During public participation, Phillip Harrison and Keith Hayward spoke in objection to the application, Michael Knappett spoke in support of the application and Councillor Martin Clay on behalf of Denmead 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 refuse permission for the reasonsset out in the report and the update sheet.