Agenda item

Proposal Description: Construction of 4 x single-storey, timber-clad cabins for use as holiday lets.

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

1. Additional comments had been received from Natural England advising that they had no objection to the application subject to appropriate mitigation being secured.
2. The wording of Condition 3 to be amended which was set out in full within the update sheet.

During public participation, Gill Mulley spoke in objection to the application, and Louise Cutts spoke in support of the application and answered members' questions.

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

1.    He acknowledged the planning officer's report and its compliance with policies but highlighted two major issues.

2.    He described the recurring problem of raw sewage overflow in Heathen Street near the proposed development site, and questioned Southern Water's ability to handle the increased load despite their assurances. He urged the committee to consider the real-world situation and local residents' experiences, arguing that the development could breach policy DM-17 Part 3.

3.    He raised concerns about the need for additional tourist accommodation in Durley, noting the absence of allocated sites in the current or emerging local plan and suggesting that the provision was driven by supply rather than demand.

4.    He highlighted the existence of numerous holiday properties already available in Durley, citing 10 listings on Airbnb with a combined capacity of 50 beds.

5.    He referred to Local Plan Policy Part 2 policy DM-10, which required a demonstrated need for development to override the presumption against non-essential development in the countryside, questioning whether Durley still qualified as an appropriate location for further development of this type.

6.    He questioned the definition of "small scale" in policy MTRA 4, and highlighted the cumulative impact of multiple small-scale developments on the rural character of the village.

7.    He concluded by requesting the committee to withhold permission until the foul water issues are resolved by Southern Water and evidence of the need for more holiday accommodation in Durley was provided.

The committee proceeded to ask questions and debate the application and received advice from the Legal Officer concerning a number of matters including: the distinction between holiday lets and dwelling houses, and enforcement measures,

RESOLVED:

The committee voted against the recommendation to permit planning permission and instead voted to refuse permission for the proposal. In reaching this decision, they raised the following material planning matters which weighed in favour of refusing planning permission:

The proposed development of four units on the site was considered inappropriate in the context of the immediate area, particularly when assessed against the character and setting of neighbouring uses and surrounding development. The committee raised concerns that the scale and nature of the proposal did not reflect the low-key nature of the area and was not in keeping with its immediate context. Furthermore, while it was acknowledged that the site could support alternative uses in accordance with relevant policies, the committee felt the proposal failed to demonstrate sufficient compatibility with Policy MTRA4. It was agreed that the detail of the reason for refusal should be delegated to the Service Lead: Built Environment in consultation with the Chairperson to finalise.