Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Dixon and Donnelly–Jackson.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Dixon and Donnelly–Jackson.

Members are invited to declare at this stage of the meeting, the nature and existence of any relevant disclosable pecuniary or personal interests in the items on this agenda and to specify the item(s) to which they relate.

There were no declarations of interest made at the meeting.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on Wednesday 24 November 2021 as a correct record.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the previous Planning Committee meeting held on Wednesday 24 November be approved as an accurate record of the meeting.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the previous Planning Committee meeting held on Wednesday 24 November be approved as an accurate record of the meeting.

The committee agreed to defer a decision on the application in order to:

·           seek further details and assurance from Thames Water in relation to the impact of the proposed development on drainage and the maintenance of the sewerage infrastructure and how these would be mitigated;

·           seek further details on the location of the flooding incidents identified within the Flood Risk Assessment; and

·           seek further details on the proposals to alleviate concerns regarding the access of construction traffic to the site via Gooseacre Lane as part of the Construction Method Statement and Logistics Plan to be secured via condition.

PROPOSAL:

The demolition of the existing garages and redevelopment to provide 3 self-contained flats and 5 dwelling houses; with associated car parking, cycle storage, refuse storage, amenity space and landscaping.

RECOMMENDATION:

(1)     That the Committee resolve to GRANT planning permission subject to the Head of Planning being delegated authority to issue the planning permission and impose the conditions and informatives as set out in the report.

(2)     That the Head of Planning is delegated authority to make changes to the wording of the committee’s decision (such as to delete, vary or add conditions, informatives, planning obligations or reasons for the decision) prior to the decision being actioned, provided that the Head of Planning is satisfied that any such changes could not reasonably be regarded as deviating from the overall principle of the decision reached by the committee nor that such change(s) could reasonably have led to a different decision having been reached by the committee. 

(3)     That the Committee confirms that adequate provision has been made, by the imposition of conditions, for the preservation or planting of trees as required by Section 197 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

Liam McFadden, Planning Officer introduced the report and set out the key issues.  In introducing the application members were advised that the scheme proposed the demolition of the existing garages and redevelopment to provide 3 self-contained flats and 5 dwelling houses; with associated car parking, cycle storage, refuse storage, amenity space and landscaping.  This was on an application site comprising of a 0.32 hectare plot of land at the rear of 1 to 31 Lidding Road, and to the south of Lidding Road adjacent to the Wealdstone Brook, which included an alleyway and 27 detached garages accessed from Gooseacre Lane.

In reference to the supplementary report circulated in advance of the meeting, the Planning Officer drew members’ attention to the updated bat survey, an amended landscaping design plan and proposed amendments to Condition 2, Condition 8, Condition 12 and Condition 10.  In addition, the inclusion of a further condition had been recommended requiring the approval of a Construction and Ecological Management Plan.  Subject to the amended and additional conditions members were advised that the recommendation remained to approve the application.

As no questions were raised by members, the Chair then invited John Poole (objector) to address the Committee (in person) in relation to the application who raised a number of concerns including:

·                The area of land within which the development was proposed had been subject to ongoing issues regarding poorly maintained foul sewer pipes and surface water pipes. The proposed plans indicated the new development would connect directly to the same foul sewer and drainage pipe network.

·                Both sets of pipes had reportedly been subject to investigation by Thames Water over the past few years, who had concluded that the foul sewers and surface water sewers were working at near full capacity in normal rain events leading to potential overflow in storm conditions as had already been  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Granted planning permission subject to the conditions and informatives as set out within the report.

PROPOSAL:

Retrospective application for demolition of garage and proposed construction of a single-storey residential unit (Use Class C3), provision of cycle and refuse storage, associated landscaping and renewed boundary fencing.

RECOMMENDATION:

(1)     That the Committee resolve to GRANT planning permission and that the Head of Planning is delegated authority to issue the planning permission and impose the conditions and informatives as set out within the report.

(2)     That the Head of Planning is delegated authority to make changes to the wording of the committee’s decision (such as to delete, vary or add conditions, informatives, planning obligations or reasons for the decision) prior to the decision being actioned, provided that the Head of Planning is satisfied that any such changes could not reasonably be regarded as deviating from the overall principle of the decision reached by the committee nor that such change(s) could reasonably have led to a different decision having been reached by the committee.

Damian Manhertz, Planning Team Leader South, introduced the report, set out the key issues and answered member’s questions. In introducing the application members were advised that permission was being sought to rebuild the previous garage located on the site as a one-bedroom dwelling house, incorporating a new side extension adjacent to the boundary of 94 Dartmouth Road. There would be no change to existing access arrangements, with the site fronting onto Lydford Road. The proposal was identical in size, siting and scale to the previous consent to convert the garage into a house with extensions and alterations to the structure, with the exception of minor amendments to some details. The submission followed the demolition of the garage, which had occurred during the works to construct the dwelling which the applicants stated had not been intentional.

As there were no registered speakers on this application, members were invited to ask officers any clarifying questions. In response to member questions officers confirmed that:

·                The Heritage Officer had been consulted and was satisfied   that the plans for the proposed building would reflect the previous build in terms of both scale and design.  Whilst some minor changes had needed to be made to period detailing to the roof and to enable reclaimed material to be used the current proposal was not considered to result in any harm to the conservation area or have any significant impact on the overall living conditions of neighbouring occupiers.

·                The application had required consideration by Planning Committee as the threshold had been met due to the number of objections received.

With no further issues raised and having established that all members had followed the discussions the Chair asked members to vote on the recommendations.

DECISION: Granted planning permission subject to the conditions and informatives as set out within the report.

(Voting on the recommendation was as follows: For 6 & Against 0.)

Notice of items to be raised under this heading must be given in writing to the Head of Executive and Member Services or her representative before the meeting in accordance with Standing Order 60.

None.

The meeting closed at 7.22 pm

COUNCILLOR KELCHER

Chair